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China has reported a significant increase in COVID-related deaths for the week of January 13th to January 19th, with a total of nearly 13,000 new deaths reported in hospitals. This number adds to the nearly 60,000 deaths reported in the month before that. Experts in China believe that the current wave of infections across the country has already peaked.
The recent update of death toll from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention has raised questions about Beijing’s data transparency, as the numbers remain low compared to global standards.
Since China lifted the strictest COVID-19 controls and mass testing in early December, hospitals and funeral homes have been overwhelmed. This decision was made to minimize the economic damage and stress caused by the strict measures that were implemented before.
The lifting of the strictest COVID-19 controls and mass testing in China in early December has led to an overwhelming burden on hospitals and funeral homes. This decision was made to alleviate the economic damage and stress caused by the previous strict measures.
The death toll reported by the Chinese authorities only include the deaths that occurred in hospitals, it excludes deaths that occurred at home. Some doctors have also reported that they have been discouraged from listing COVID-19 as the cause of death on death certificates.
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On January 14th, China reported a significant increase in COVID-related deaths in hospitals between December 8th and January 12th, with a total of nearly 60,000 deaths. This number is a significant increase from the previous reported deaths of over 5,000 deaths throughout the entire pandemic period.
Spending on items such as body bags and cremation ovens by funeral homes has increased in several provinces in China, indicating the significant impact of COVID-19 on the country. This is one of the many indications of the deadly impact of the virus in China.
Some health experts predict that more than one million people will die from COVID-19 in China this year. British-based health data firm Airfinity forecasts that the daily death toll could reach 36,000 this week.
As millions of migrant workers return home for Lunar New Year celebrations, health experts are particularly concerned about people living in China’s rural areas where medical facilities are poor compared to those in the affluent coastal areas. The mass movement of people during this holiday period may spread the pandemic and boost infections in certain areas. However, Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that a second wave of COVID-19 is unlikely in the near term. He noted that the possibility of a big COVID rebound in China over the next two or three months is remote as 80% of the population has already been infected.
(“This story remains unedited by News360Express staff and is published from a syndicated feed.”)