Global investment banks Standard Chartered, Goldman Sachs and Nomura have all cut their 2022 economic growth forecasts for China. New coronavirus outbreaks and downward pressure on the real estate market are chief reasons China’s economic recovery is losing steam.

New cases declined for the ninth day, dropping 6.8 per cent to 7,333 in the previous 24 hours; symptomatic cases fell 7.7 per cent to 727. The positive outlook was sullied by 58 new cases that popped up in areas previously regarded as low-risk ‘precautionary zones’

The head of Iran's Health Ministry's Public Relations Office said on Wednesday 76,389 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), 4,777 of whom have lost their lives.

President explained the five steps that the government has taken during the fight against coronavirus and stressed that despite the problems made by anti-Iranian sanctions and the coronavirus, this year’s condition in the fields of agriculture, industry and services will be acceptable because of people’s support and sacrifice.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against the risk of a second wave of infections in the country as the global pandemic continues to spread, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Stressing that "everybody must take the issue of coronavirus seriously", president said that the world is unanimous that to fight coronavirus, the chain must be cut from its origin and minimising urban and interurban travel.

Stating that some use coronavirus to their advantage by hiding masks and some hide behind masks to spread lies in society, President gave reassurance that the crisis will be overcome as soon as possible with the least casualties with the work of the country’s medical staff and people’s cooperation.