BEIJING: China’s National Health Commission (NHC) on Sunday halted publication of daily COVID-19 figures, amid doubts about their reliability as infections exploded after a sudden easing of strict restrictions.
“Relevant COVID information will be published by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for reference and research,” the commission said in a statement, citing reasons for the change or how often the China CDC updates COVID information. Will date.
The NHC’s halt in reporting daily infection and death numbers comes as concerns grow about a lack of vital information as Beijing makes drastic changes to its zero-COVID policy that has locked down millions of its citizens. I had put in and affected the second largest population in the world.
Despite the record rise in infections, the NHC reported no nationwide Covid deaths for four consecutive days before halting data release. China narrowed its definition for reporting deaths from COVID, counting only those with pneumonia or respiratory failure caused by COVID, raising eyebrows among global health experts. .
UK-based health data firm Airfinity estimated last week that China was experiencing more than a million infections and 5,000 deaths per day.
After COVID cases broke daily records in late November, the NHC stopped reporting asymptomatic infections this month, making it difficult to track cases.
China’s official figures had become an unreliable guide as fewer tests were being carried out across the country, while China has routinely been accused of understating infections and deaths.
The United States has also reported Covid cases less frequently, switching from daily to weekly updates, citing the need to reduce the reporting burden on local areas.
The World Health Organization has not received any data from China on new Covid hospital admissions since Beijing eased restrictions. The organization says the data gap is due to authorities struggling to contain the number of cases in the world’s most populous country.
Several models and reports in recent days have predicted nearly two million Covid deaths as the virus spreads to rural parts of the country, with the most vulnerable elderly population and the unvaccinated at risk.
According to state media, the country’s health care system is under strain, with staff asked to work while sick and even retired medical workers in rural communities putting in low-level efforts. I am hired again to help.
Adding to the urgency is the approach of the Lunar New Year in January, when large numbers of people return home.
