China is posting the steepest drop in COVID-19 deaths among more than 20 places hit hardest by Omicron, reviving questions about its virus data and the true impact of the reopening wave as Beijing works to move on from the pandemic
The lack of clear information and the low number of deaths attributed to Covid raise questions about the accuracy of official data, after hospitals were overwhelmed and families lined the streets with their loved ones’ coffins waiting for access to crematoriums. While all countries have struggled to document their pandemic experience, China’s changing approach has made its accounting particularly fraught.
The decline has been fast and consistent. Covid-related fatalities fell 72% to 912 for the week ended Feb. 9, from the previous seven days, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That was preceded by a drop of 48% from 6,364 for the week ended Jan 26, the agency said.
Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical virologist at the University of Hong Kong, said testing infrastructure breaks down amid acute surges in cases.
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