Health News Roundup: Shanghai, China Announces Discovery of New Omicron Subvariant; Kenya and World Health Organization launch emergency center and more

Here is a summary of health news briefs.

Biden weighs power to declare abortion-related public health emergency after Roe v. Wade overturned

US President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had asked his administration to consider whether he had the authority to declare an abortion-related public health emergency after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade who legalized abortion nationwide. The comments come after Biden on Friday signed an executive order aimed at making it easier to access services to terminate pregnancies.

Shanghai announces the discovery of a new sub-variant of Omicron

The city of Shanghai has discovered a case of COVID-19 involving a new Omicron BA.5.2.1 subvariant, an official said at a briefing on Sunday, signaling the complications China faces in tracking new mutations as that she continues her “zero-COVID”. Politics. The case, discovered in Pudong’s financial district on July 8, was linked to a foreign case, said Zhao Dandan, vice director of the city’s health commission.

Kenya and World Health Organization launch emergency center

The Kenyan government and the World Health Organization on Saturday launched a medical emergency center in Nairobi, the first of a network of African centers they say will speed up responses to regional emergencies. The facility will include a training center, house a cadre of professionals capable of responding to a medical emergency within the first 24 hours, and stocks of medical equipment.

China reports 420 new COVID cases for July 9 from 455 a day earlier

China reported 420 new COVID-19 infections on July 9, up from 455 a day earlier, according to data released by the National Health Commission on Sunday. The total included 319 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately, while 76 were imported and the rest local transmissions.

Macau closes casinos and other businesses to contain COVID outbreak

Macau will close nearly all commercial and industrial businesses, including its casinos, for a week from Monday as authorities race to curb a wave of COVID-19 infections at the world’s biggest gambling hub. Essential services, including hotels, supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain open, however, city officials said when announcing the measures at a press conference on Saturday.

Abbott says he has reopened Michigan infant formula plant

Abbott Laboratories has reopened its infant formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, which was closed last month due to heavy rains, a company spokesman told Reuters on Saturday. Abbott resumed operations on July 1 and began producing EleCare specialty infant formula.

Hong Kong eyes Chinese-style COVID code system – newspaper

Hong Kong plans to implement a health code system similar to China to tackle Covid infections without tightening social distancing measures, the South China Morning Post reported on Sunday https://bit.ly/3OYK8uT quoting new Health Secretary Lo Chung-Mau. Lo dismissed concerns about the proposed measure as unpopular with Hong Kong residents, arguing it would bolster the freedoms of uninfected residents, the newspaper said citing the health secretary’s comments on a TV broadcast.

(With agency contributions.)