A total of 584,000 Covid deaths are expected in China by January 23. (File)
Canberra:
According to a data firm, news.com.au, an Australia-based publication, reported deaths attributed to Covid in China have risen to 9,000 people a day.
The news.com.au report also said: “UK-based research firm Airfinity has doubled the number of people it estimates are dying from Covid in China as the number of infections rises. This comes after Beijing lifted the draconian zero-Covid health measures in November that have been in place for years.”
Protests erupted across China over the tough lockdowns after an apartment fire killed 10 people. There have been allegations that firefighters have been prevented from entering the apartment building due to the quarantine orders.
The country reversed its Covid policy amid widespread protests in its nine cities.
“Airfinity said its model was based on data from China’s regional provinces before changes were made to infection reporting, combined with case growth rates from other former zero-Covid countries when they lifted restrictions,” the report said.
The total number of Covid-related deaths in China in December could reach 100,000, with at least 18.6 million cases. By mid-January, there could be as many as 3.7 million COVID cases in one day. A total of 584,000 deaths are expected in China by January 23.
According to news.com.au, “Beijing has been accused of withholding health information, so it’s difficult to gauge the exact numbers. However, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) confirmed last week that the country’s current outbreak is the largest seen in the world.”
“More than a billion Chinese could be infected with Covid by March. And more than 30 percent of the population could already be infected, that’s up to 400 million people,” according to a report by The Australian.
The virus continues to spread rapidly in China. However, workers are encouraged to go to work unless they have extreme symptoms.
Ever since China eased its controversial zero-Covid policy last month, the second-biggest economy has been struggling as the country’s meteoric rise in coronavirus cases is straining the healthcare system.
British virologist and biologist Jonathan Latham, executive director of the Bioscience Resource Project, said Beijing is not open and transparent about case numbers or deaths and that only accurate data could lead to good decisions in China and elsewhere.
“China is not open and transparent about case numbers or deaths. However, this applies to many countries. However, it would be great to have really accurate information on these points, as only timely and accurate data can lead to good decisions in China and elsewhere. Good data would also test the theory that newer variants like Omicron have a lower inherent mortality rate,” Latham told ANI.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video of the Day
Jai Jawan with Taapsee Pannu