New Delhi: The emergence of XE variant has once again raised concerns about the mutating virus across the world amid China struggling with its worst wave of infections since the start of the pandemic, driven by the BA.2 sublineage of the Omicron variant,.


New recombinant variant known as XE variant is said to be a hybrid strain of two Omicron sub-variants - BA.1 and BA.2.


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How’s Covid situation in China?


Shanghai on Friday registered a record 21,000 new Covid-19 cases amid stronger implementation of Covid testing for third consecutive day. The lockdown measures showed no sign of easing even as Chinese cities without any infections also imposed restrictions.


The US administration is closely monitoring a coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai that could cause delays to air cargo, said White house press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.


Beijing intervened after Shanghai failed in its slice-and-grid approach, and insisted that the country stick to its elimination approach to Covid saying it is essential to keeping death rates low and preventing its medical system from breaking down.


In an estimate by Nomura, around 23 Chinese cities have implemented either full or partial lockdowns. The cities collectively are home to an estimated 193 million people and contribute 22 per cent of China's GDP. These include Changchun, a major manufacturing hub that has been locked down for 28 days.


The United States on Friday authorised the "voluntary departure" of non-essential personnel from its consulate in Shanghai and sugguested that Americans avoid traveling to China as a result of tough Covid restrictions, new agency AFP reported.


Roughly 1 in 13 people in England had Covid-19 last week, a similar ratio to the previous week, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated on Friday as the Omicron-led surge continues, news agency Reuters reported. In Northern Ireland, the estimated rate was 1 in 16, as per ONS.


On the other hand in Germany, lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, has rejected making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for adults aged 60 years or older. A general mandatory vaccination for all adults starting at age 18 was not up for vote because the proposal was not believed to win a necessary majority, according to IANS report.