SHANGHAI has detected the Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and XBB that have been prevailing in some overseas countries but experts said the two mutant strains were found in imported cases placed under closed-loop management which has not caused local transmission, saying there is no need to hoard Montmorillonite powder to relieve diarrhea that can be caused by subvariant XBB.1.5.

A total of 369 viral sequencing results of the local Covid-19 cases in China have been shared by a Shanghai research team with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (Gisaid). They showed that at least 30 known Omicron subvariants have been detected in Shanghai but no new variant has been identified, according to media reports.