Not satisfied with angering the world with human rights abuses, the Chinese government is now pointing the finger at Canada, blaming an inconspicuous parcel for bringing Omicron to the Communist state.
Of course, no one is buying this. Despite propaganda early in the pandemic that COVID stayed on surfaces for days or even weeks, the belief has been universally rejected as more data has emerged.
#China #Canada #Omicron #SARSCoV2 #C19 #Olympics #BeijingWinterOlympics #Geopolitical #News
The inventor of SARSCoV2 C19 Coronavirus is now blaming Canada for Omicron.🥶❄🔜👋 pic.twitter.com/rrOqy7gEq1— TBIHotline.org (@TBIHotline) January 18, 2022
As University of Ottawa Margaret McCuaig-Johnston explains, “Unlike the early days, scientists have clarified that it does not stay on surfaces. To suggest that it would be on mail that came over days from Canada is ludicrous,” she said.
“There’s no indication that the data that came out of China in terms of their infection rate and their death rate was falsified in any way,” Canada’s health minister Patty Hajdu says. She then accuses the reporter who asked about the data of “feeding into conspiracy theories.” pic.twitter.com/UdkXzYk2os
— Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) April 2, 2020
Still, China appears to be on the warpath against everything foreign, warning citizens of the risk of mail, urging them to stop ordering goods from abroad, and disinfecting imported mail — a process which the government, of course, broadcasts to its populace to stir up fear and resentment.
China is urging people to wear masks and gloves when opening mail, especially from abroad, after authorities suggested the first case of the Omicron variant found in Beijing could have arrived via a package from Canada https://t.co/Eo5wbG4JIJ pic.twitter.com/DlnwaP7d8H
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 18, 2022
According to Queensland University virologist Ian Mackay, China’s recent xenophobia regarding foreign mail isn’t justified, and disinfection protocols are utterly useless.
“We all know this virus can hang around in people who aren’t showing symptoms, especially early on in the disease,” Mackay said. “If you’re looking for a reason for … a virus being introduced into a jurisdiction, the first thing you’d think of is humans coming in from overseas – where the virus is everywhere.”
“It’s an airborne virus. It’s not about surfaces. Technically, it can happen, sure. There’s a non-zero risk, sure. But is it happening again and again? No,” he continued. “If you see and hear horses, don’t think zebras.”
Health Canada’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Supriya Sharma, also says that China’s accusation that a Canadian parcel led to the first case of Omicron in China is next to impossible.
“You would have to have virus on an object. It would have to survive through all of that transport and all of those circumstances,” Sharma said in an interview with CTV News. “It would be highly unlikely that that could ever transmit COVID-19.”
With the Beijing Olympics just over two weeks away, many wonder why China would intentionally hurl insults and accusations at various nation-states, as several Olympic regulars are still angry with China over the emergence of COVID and have boycotted the Olympics over China’s human rights abuses.
Moreover, several security risks have emerged, including the probability that the country’s COVID app is nothing short of spyware, and officials are telling athletes to shut their mouths when it comes to speaking out against China, as the state could mobilize against them.
With all these problems and more, the Beijing Olympics is looking like it will be the worst in recent memory. And unfounded accusations against Canada is just one more reason not to tune into the games.
