(2022-12-30). The New Year ushers in the fourth year of the COVID pandemic. wsws.org The New Year weekend celebrations will usher in more superspreading events as the United States and the world enters the fourth year of the pandemic.
(2022-12-30). Paxlovid covered by medical insurance sold at $271, limited to buy in Beijing. ecns.cn The oral COVID-19 drug Paxlovid is now purchasable in some community health service centers in Beijing, but only sold to eligible patients under purchase limit. Patients need to pay at least 1,890 yuan (about $271) for the drug, which is already covered by the medical insurance.
(2022-12-30). Grassroots healthcare facilities add extra beds to fight COVID in Beijing. ecns.cn Grassroots healthcare institutions in Beijing have set up more beds for patients amid the COVID surge this winter following the city's decision to lift rules that contain the virus.
(2022-12-30). Chinese oral COVID-19 drug equally effective with Paxlovid: study. ecns.cn An oral antiviral agent called VV116, which is a potent anti-COVID-19 drug, is just as effective as Paxlovid in increasing the speed of clinical recovery, according to a scientific study published on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
(2022-12-30). China's daily ibuprofen, paracetamol production tops 200 mln tablets. ecns.cn China's daily production capacity of fever and pain relievers ibuprofen and paracetamol has exceeded 200 million tablets, while the daily output reached 190 million as the country strives to expand its anti-COVID-19 medical supply.
(2022-12-30). Steps taken to ensure COVID preparedness. ecns.cn China's recent shifts in COVID-19 control strategy are well-paced, with sufficient preparatory work in place to handle the resulting surge in medical demand, authorities said on Thursday.
(2022-12-30). Popular music and jazz in 2022, a selection. wsws.org Many working musicians must now tour and play live concerts most of the year in order to support themselves financially. They thus constantly face the potential long-term prospect of playing until they get terribly sick with a deadly virus, or face financial ruin, or both.
(2022-12-29). When Conspiracy Theorists are Most Dangerous. dissidentvoice.org 
A discussion featuring Sasha Latypova, an ex-pharma/biotech professional with 25 years of experience in clinical trials, clinical technologies and regulatory approvals, about the role of the Department of Defense and National Security Council in deploying biowarfare agents marketed as "vaccines" on the US and global population.
(2022-12-29). Nation takes big leap on vaccinations. ecns.cn From offering the world's first inhaled COVID-19 vaccines and developing Omicron-targeted vaccines to rolling out second booster shots and targeted immunization plans for seniors, China's vaccination efforts have gained steam this year, according to authorities.
(2022-12-29). International Call For New Year's Eve Noise Demonstrations. popularresistance.org This is a call for a night of strong solidarity with those imprisoned by the state. Historically, New Year's Eve is one of the noisiest nights of the year. This year, most of which has been consumed by a global pandemic, we encourage folks to take whatever measures are necessary to insure individual and community well-being, in response to both the virus and the state, understanding the balance each of us must strike for ourselves. Given our current reality, on New Year's Eve gather your crew, collective, community, organization, or just yourself to raise a racket and remind those on the inside that they are not…
(2022-12-29). Western hype on policy shift slammed. ecns.cn Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that the hype and distortion by some Western media about China's readjustment of its COVID-19 prevention and control measures while remaining silent about their countries' chaotic pandemic response is "a complete double standard and a serious violation of journalism ethics".
(2022-12-29). Outdoor medical service stations set up for COVID patients in Zhejiang. ecns.cn Outdoor fever treatment stations have been set up in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, to provide one-stop medical services for COVID patients as local hospitals are under great pressure from a large amount of patients.
(2022-12-29). China's domestically-developed oral COVID drug to enter market in February. ecns.cn SIM0417, an oral COVID drug developed by China, is expected to enter the market in February 2023, according to the Jiangsu Medical Products Administration.
(2022-12-29). World welcomes China's optimized COVID-19 policies. ecns.cn "Welcome our Chinese friends with open arms!" France's embassy in China pinned on its Weibo social account.
(2022-12-29). U.S. to require negative COVID test upon arrival for Chinese travelers. ecns.cn The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday that it will require a negative COVID-19 test for air passengers from China.
(2022-12-29). China denounces 'distorted' Western reports about China's optimized COVID-19 response. ecns.cn Countries adjusting the COVID policy would invariably go through a period of adaptation. China is no exception as we shift gear in our COVID policy. China's COVID situation on the whole remains predictable and under control.
(2022-12-29). Street interview: Beijing residents' views on China's COVID-19 management shift. ecns.cn A street interview was conducted about Beijing residents' views on China's COVID-19 management shift.
(2022-12-29). 6 amazing scientific achievements at Imperial in 2022. imperial.ac.uk From exploring magic mushrooms to answering COVID-19 questions, here are some of Imperial's biggest findings this year:…
(2022-12-29). US requires travelers from China test negative for COVID amid surging infections and deaths. wsws.org The measures against China are entirely political and in no way meant to ensure the public health of the American, Chinese, or world populations.
(2022-12-29). Detectan nuevas cepas derivadas de la variante àìmicron en Uruguay. telesurtv.net El ente de Salud alertó que los cambios de los virus pueden influir en su facilidad de propagación y la gravedad de la enfermedad.
(2022-12-29). Panamá acumula 79 casos de mpox. telesurtv.net El departamento de Epidemiología informa que del total de casos reportados, nueve se mantienen activos.
(2022-12-29). China's Baidu operates driverless taxi night service in Wuhan. ecns.cn Chinese tech giant Baidu announced on Monday that it has expanded the commercial operation area and times of its driverless taxi service in central China's Wuhan.
(2022-12-29). To attain global Climate and Biodiversity Goals, we must reclaim Nature in our Cities. juancole.com 
By Emma Despland, Concordia University | The climate and biodiversity crises we have been experiencing for the past few decades are inseparable. The scientific research presented at the back-to-back international summits on climate and biodiversity held in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt and in Montréal, Canada, respectively, has made this abundantly clear. Addressing these crises …