The World Health Organization is urging China to continue to release COVID-19 data after Beijing reported on Saturday that it had nearly 60,000 coronavirus-related deaths since Dec. 8.
Beijing’s announcement was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party abruptly withdrew virus restrictions in December, despite a surge in infections that flooded hospitals. So the WHO and other governments have asked for information, and the US, South Korea and other countries have imposed restrictions on Chinese tourists.
A woman and child wearing masks wait for travelers wearing masks to board a train in the departures hall at Beijing’s West Railway Station on Sunday, January 15, 2023.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously reported only 36 deaths between Dec. 7 and Jan. 8, according to The Washington Post.
In its revised death toll, Beijing recorded 5,503 deaths from respiratory failure due to COVID-19 between December 8 and January 12, combined with cancer, heart disease, and cancer. It said there were 54,435 deaths from other diseases.
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The latest figures show a significant increase from the previously suspiciously low total of 10,775 deaths since the disease was first discovered in Wuhan in 2019.
The WHO said Saturday’s announcement in Beijing “allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation”.
A patient lies on a bed and stretcher in a hospital emergency department corridor during the coronavirus outbreak in Shanghai, China, January 4, 2023.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had a telephone conversation with Health Minister Ma Xiaowei.
“WHO requested that this kind of detailed information continue to be shared with us and the public.
The National Health Board said only hospital deaths were counted, not those who died at home. No word on when or if they will release updated numbers.
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“The peak of the national emergency has passed,” health officials said, based on an 83% drop in the number of people going to fever clinics in a single day from a high on Dec. 23.
China only counts deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official toll, excluding many deaths that could be attributed to the virus in other countries.
Meanwhile, high-speed train services between mainland China and Hong Kong resumed on Sunday under restrictions requiring 5,000 passengers from both sides to travel daily, requiring a negative virus test within the last 48 hours. .
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Both sides are resuming travel links suspended under Beijing’s ‘zero COVID’ strategy aimed at keeping the virus away from China. imposed restrictions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
