The variant now accounts for over 80 per cent of cases in the United States, where it has spread rapidly since December. The World Health Organization (WHO) said last month that the strain was “the most transmissible variant that has been detected yet”.

Li Tongzeng, chief doctor with the respiratory and infectious diseases department at Beijing Youan Hospital, told state media outlet China News Service that new infections caused by XBB.1.5 could not be ruled out.

However, Li also said Covid-19 immunity in China remained strong despite the new strain being found in the country, and while there might be sporadic infections, a major outbreak was unlikely.

“At present, the newly confirmed cases are mainly people who have not previously been infected, and the probability of being infected twice by the exact same strain is very small,” Li said.

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China’s slow road to economic recovery after dropping its zero-Covid policies

China’s slow road to economic recovery after dropping its zero-Covid policies

China recorded just six Covid-19 deaths in hospitals on February 16, down 99.99 per cent from a daily peak of 4,273 on January 4, according to CDC data released on Saturday. Hospital deaths related to Covid-19 stood at 98 for the seven-day period ending on February 16.