Mercury thermometers CHINA will ban the production of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers nationwide starting in 2026, according to a recent statement issued by the National Medical Products Administration. In line with the country’s goal to reduce mercury pollution, China has been cutting mercury use in many products and processes, including banning mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers, which are used to measure blood pressure, beginning in 2026. Minors’ protection The country’s top legislature on Saturday voted to adopt a revision to the Law on the Protection of Minors, strengthening protection of underage youths in cyberspace. Internet product and service providers shall not offer minors with products and services that induce addiction, says the revision, which was approved at the closing meeting of a regular session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. Providers of online services, including game, livestream, audio and video, and social media, shall set up corresponding functions such as time limit and consumption limit for minors, according to the revision. COVID vaccine A Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on the inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virus is safe and elicits an antibody response, according to the findings from a small early-phase randomized clinical trial published on Thursday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The latest study included participants aged between 18 and 80, and found that antibody responses were induced in all recipients. Participants aged 60 and older were slower to respond, taking 42 days before antibodies were detected in all recipients compared with 28 days for participants aged 18-59. Food packaging The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday confirmed the detection and isolation of living novel coronavirus on the outer packaging of imported frozen cod in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao. The finding was made during an investigation to trace the source of recent infections reported in the city. It has proved that contact with packaging contaminated by living novel coronavirus could lead to infection, the China CDC said. It is the first time in the world that living novel coronavirus has been isolated from the outer packaging of cold-chain food, the CDC said. (SD-Agencies) | 