China reports almost 13,000 deaths from COVID-19 in one week | Coronavirus | D.W.

The Chinese health authorities reported this Sunday (01.22.2023) a total of 12,658 deaths related to SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals between January 13 and 19, bringing the official balance of deaths attributed to COVID-19 It has reached 72,596 patients since last December 8, when the authorities began to dismantle the ‘zero covid’ policy.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Asian country, the deaths are divided into 681 caused directly by the disease caused by the coronavirus and another 11,977 attributed to patients who died with COVID-19 detected with a PCR test. , but whose death was influenced by other underlying ailments.

The latest update from the institution reports more than 470,000 hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the country, of which some 52,000 were in serious condition. It is worth mentioning that the official data provided by the Chinese authorities does not include people who died at home. CDC chief epidemiologist Wu Zunyou said 80 percent of the population has already contracted the virus.

¿600.000 muertos?

In recent weeks, some voices have questioned the veracity of the death figures offered by China, which contrast with estimates such as those of the British health sector analysis company Airfinity, which recently assured that some 36,000 could be reached. deaths per day during the Lunar New Year holidays -from January 21 to 27- in the country.

The firm also estimated that more than 600,000 people have died of the disease since China abandoned its zero covid policy in December, after almost three years of harsh restrictions, lockdowns and virtually total border closures that ended up crystallizing in protests in various parts of the country. country.

DZC (EFE, AFP)