Breakwater secures refinance for the recently opened Wall Street Hotel in New York City

Reuters

WRAPUP 1-China says COVID outbreak easing on eve of travel rush

China said the worst was over in its battle against COVID-19 ahead of what is expected to be the busiest day of travel in years on Friday, a mass movement of people that has fed fears of a further surge in infections. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who oversees China’s virus response, said that the outbreak was at a “relatively low” level, state media reported late on Thursday, after health officials said the number of COVID patients in clinics, emergency rooms and with critical conditions had peaked. But there are widespread doubts about China’s account of an outbreak that has overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums since Beijing abandoned strict COVID controls and mass testing last month and unleashed the virus on its 1.4 billion population after protests against the anti-COVID policy.