In China, there are signs that the latest wave of COVID brought about by the easing of lockdown measures alongside a surprisingly low vaccination rate may be more severe than official reports indicate.
A recent spate of suspicious deaths among Chinese celebrity has prompted alarm among citizens, BBC News reports. In December, 40-year-old opera singer Chu Lanlan died, which came as a shock to many, given her young age.
Her family said they were saddened by her “abrupt departure”, but did not give details of the cause of her death.
China’s scrapping of many “zero COVID” regulations has resulted in a surge of cases, and there reports of hospitals and crematoria becoming overwhelmed. Yet China has only reported 22 COVID deaths since December, based on its own strict criteria which now only allow for death from respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday warned that the country was under-representing its COVID statistics, especially deaths. Chinese officials denied this.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a media briefing that China had transparently and quickly shared COVID data with the WHO, adding that China’s “epidemic situation is controllable”.
“Facts have proved that China has always, in accordance with the principles of legality, timeliness, openness and transparency, maintained close communication and shared relevant information and data with the WHO in a timely manner,” Mao said.
While many countries have likely under-represented COVID deaths, including the United States, the extent appears to be much greater in China.
Back in January of 2022, Forbes took a critical look at China’s official figures, with a death rate at the time of 0.32 per 100 000 population compared to the US’ 248 per 100 000 – a rate 800 times lower higher which beggars belief.
China used these figures to position itself as the world leader in the response against COVID, the New York Times noted.
The director of Beijing’s Institute of Respiratory Diseases admitted in a TB interview that the number of deaths among the elderly was “definitely more” so far this winter than in past years, but stressed that critical cases remained in the minority.
This week the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, urged citizens to work towards a “final victory” over COVID and dismissed criticism of the previous zero-COVID policy.
