BEIJING – The death toll in the latest COVID-19 wave in China’s capital Beijing has risen gradually, as feverish hospital patients and a pick-up in funeral business point to a widening outbreak following an easing of strict regulations to contain the virus.
Unofficial reports indicate that a widespread wave of new coronavirus cases, and relatives of victims and people working in the funeral business said COVID-19-related deaths were increasing. These individuals spoke on condition of not being identified for fear of retribution, official policy and the direction of the latest outbreak remain shrouded in uncertainty and confusion.
The National Health Commission on Tuesday said five newly registered deaths, all in Beijing, brought the country’s total death toll to 5,242 – relatively low by global standards but potentially rising significantly after the government tried to move away from the “zero limit” to remove. COVID” policies of lockdowns, quarantines and forced testing that have rattled and prompted the economy rare anti-government protests.
China has said people are testing and recovering at home An exact count is no longer possible new case numbers, which makes it considerably more difficult to assess the status of the current wave of infection and its direction. Some scientific models have estimated the number will increase, with a possible death toll in the tens or hundreds of thousands.
China is trying convince reluctant seniors and others at risk of getting vaccinated, apparently with only moderate success. The vaccination centers visited in recent days have been largely empty and there has not been a major publicity campaign in the fully state-controlled media.
The other key concern is strengthening health resources in smaller towns and the vast rural hinterland ahead of the Lunar New Year travel rush in January, when migrant workers will return to their hometowns.
Fever clinics have expanded in both urban and rural areas, and people have been asked to stay home unless seriously ill to conserve resources. Hospitals are also running out of staff and workers have reportedly been asked to return to their posts unless they have a fever.
Chinese health officials only count those who died directly from COVID-19, excluding deaths attributed to underlying conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which increase the risk of serious illnesses.
In many other countries, guidelines state that any death in which the coronavirus is a factor or contributory factor is counted as COVID-19 related.
China has long celebrated its restrictive “zero-COVID” approach to keeping case numbers and deaths relatively low, and compares favorably with the US, where the death toll has surpassed 1.1 million.
But the policies of lockdowns, travel restrictions, mandatory testing and quarantines put enormous pressure on China’s society and economy and apparently won over the ruling Communist Party Heed outside advice and change his strategy.
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