New highly infectious variants of Covid emerge in China

China has imposed fresh lockdowns and travel restrictions amid Covid surge, as the country has detected new Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7, which are highly infectious with greater transmissibility. BF.7 (also known as BA.2.75.2) is a sub-lineage of the Covid Omicron variant BA.5.2.1. 

According to local reports, the BF.7 was detected on October 4 in Yantai and Shaoguan city. The subvariant



BA.5.1.7 was detected in the Chinese mainland for the first time. World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned against the highly infectious BF.7 subvariant.

Meanwhile, holiday spending during China's Golden Week has plunged to its lowest level in seven years. New Covid cases are spiking across mainland China, prompting many local authorities to tighten controls on movement.