China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has reported that nearly 60,000 people have died from Covid since the country abandoned its Covid-zero policy in early December.
NHC health officials said cases were surging nationwide, according to Reuters.
president of china Xi Jinping He faced unprecedented opposition as thousands of protesters demonstrated against his zero-Covid approach in cities across China, with some demonstrators openly calling for his resignation.
according to Zhao YahuiBetween December 8th and January 12th, there were a total of 59,938 Covid-related deaths in Chinese hospitals, where he served as Director General of the Medical Administration under the NHC.
Of these, 5,503 were due to Covid-induced respiratory failure and the remainder due to a combination of Covid and other related illnesses.
Yahui said China has divided Covid-related deaths into those from respiratory failure due to coronavirus infection and those from underlying illnesses combined with the infection.
“The standards are essentially in line with those adopted by the World Health Organization and other major countries,” Reuters quoted her as saying.
Yahui said the number of patients requiring urgent care has decreased, and the proportion of patients diagnosed positive for Covid-19 in fever clinics has also decreased.
However, Chinese health experts said only deaths from pneumonia and respiratory failure after contracting Covid are classified as Covid-related deaths. Heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases that cause death in infected people do not fall into that category.
Also read: China’s easing of zero Covid policy could be good music for investors
In January, China reopened its borders to international tourists for the first time since imposing COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020.
Mainland China has begun sea and land crossings with Hong Kong, eliminating the need for incoming travelers to quarantine.
Chinese officials are concerned that an increase in travel related to the Lunar New Year celebrations (beginning January 21) could lead to a surge in Covid cases.
China’s air passenger numbers have rebounded to 63% of 2019 levels since the annual travel season began on Jan. 7, Reuters quoted a Chinese industry regulator as saying.
China’s Ministry of Transport expects passenger numbers to surge by 99.5% during the festival, or recover to 70.3% of 2019 levels.
Now Read: Xi Jinping government preparing to buy ‘golden shares’ in local units of Alibaba, Tencent: FT
Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock