China's COVID-19 cases today continue to rise to their highest levels since February 2020, with the capital of Jilin province, Changchun, now on lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.In United States developments, a new study on Pfizer vaccine effectiveness in children showed solid two-dose protection against both asymptomatic and symptomatic disease, which the authors said underscores the push for full vaccination in both younger and older age-groups.Cities face lockdowns as cases spikeChina today reported 1,100 new cases, 703 of them listed as asymptomatic, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
The country is among the few with a "zero COVID" policy but is struggling with the much more transmissible Omicron variant.The city of Changchun, with a population of 9 million, is under lockdown as mass testing of all citizens begins, according to Kyodo News, a news service based in Japan.
About 70 cases in the city have been confirmed this month.Of today's new cases, 246 were in Jilin province, including 23 in Changchun.
All but two infections from the city today were asymptomatic, according to the NHC.Elsewhere in China, the Shandong province city of Yucheng, home to 500,000 people, is also on lockdown, according to NPR.Hong Kong's surge continues, with 31,402 new cases today, according to the Centre for Health Protection.