China and WHO teams to carry out joint research on virus

China and a team of experts from the WHO will conduct "scientific and rigorous joint research" on the origins of COVID-19, the National Health Commission said on Sunday. Spokesman Mi Feng told a press conference that the Chinese side and the WHO team had agreed on their next steps, including visits to disease control departments, science and research institutes and markets.

The team visited Huanan Seafood market earlier on Sunday, where the new coronavirus was first detected in December 2019. According to the Chinese National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China has given 24 million COVID-19 vaccine shots to date. Despite the central government's efforts to carry out a massive vaccination drive ahead of the imminent Lunar New Year holiday, many local governments have reportedly taken various measures to block people from traveling and returning home.

Mi Feng, a spokesperson of National Health Commission, stated that the country's pandemic prevention measures aim to curb the spread of the outbreak, rather than block family reunions. Failure to restrict travel before the Lunar New Year travel period last year was blamed for the spread of the coronavirus. Wuhan, where the first clusters of the illness were detected, is a key transport hub that was used by millions of passengers.This year, authorities have offered free refunds on plane tickets and extra pay for workers who stay put, to dissuade people from coming home for the holidays.

(Image Credit: AP)