China has released the number of deaths related to covid-19 for the first time since backing out of a strict zero-tolerance policy last month.
Jiao Yahuai, director of the National Health Commission’s Department of Health Affairs, gave two figures – 5,503 people died from respiratory failure after being infected with covid-19. Another 54,435 deaths were cured for diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. The average age of the deceased was 80.3, and 90 percent of the victims were 65 years or older. As the AP points out, it’s possible that other people in the home have succumbed to the disease.
Update: #Chinese More than 60,000 Covid-related deaths have been recorded following the sudden change in policy “5,503 deaths and 54,435 infected people died as a result of respiratory failure triggered by Covid infection. #Covid19 but with the underlying conditions… https://t.co/5P5pONo4Dj
— Nicola Low #EveryDayCounts #StillFBPE (@nicolamlow) January 14, 2023
China’s National Health Commission announced last month that only Covid-19 patients who died of respiratory failure would be counted in the official death toll.
China’s highest health authority said at the end of December that it would no longer publish the daily numbers of people infected with the new covid-19. Many reports have accused Beijing of not keeping up with the truth. China has been criticized for not being transparent from the very beginning of the covid epidemic.
In recent weeks, the media has been awash with reports of Chinese hospitals being overcrowded, shortages of medical personnel and medicines, and overcrowding in funeral homes.
One of the latest damning pieces of evidence is satellite images of the Chinese crematorium published by the American newspaper The Washington Post and CNN. Images provided by Maxar Technologies and are from late December to early January. They have caught a noticeable buzz around several crematoriums in various provinces of China.
EXCLUSIVE: Satellite images and newly confirmed images show crematoriums overflowing in China due to Covid spikes; which means that the death toll in the country is much higher than the government says. https://t.co/nVEyurTFIH
—Samuel Oakford (@samueloakford) January 9, 2023
For the most part, there are more cars near buildings compared to the time before deregulation, according to CNN. Even a crematorium on the outskirts of Beijing has built a brand new parking lot, according to satellite photos. Another crematorium in the city of Chengdu has changed its funeral offering, limiting the time it takes for family and loved ones to bid farewell to the deceased to just two minutes, according to the Washington Post.
Some countries have imposed restrictions on travelers from China, such as a negative test requirement, which China dislikes. In response, ministry spokesman Wang Wen-pin urged the United States to timely share data on the spread of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant.
Source: Seznam Zpravy
I am Joel Fitzgerald, a news website author for The News Dept. I have worked in the media and journalism industry for over 10 years and specialize in world news. My articles have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, where I am an expert contributor on global affairs.
