China shuts down the number of COVID-19 victims in one month nearly 60,000, believes the real number is higher

China shuts down the number of COVID-19 victims in one month nearly 60,000, believes the real number is higher

AFP news agency reported that China’s health authorities said on Saturday (Jan. 14) that nearly 60,000 deaths from COVID-19 had been reported in just one month, marking the biggest death toll from the disease. It is the first time the Chinese government since abolishing its zero COVID policy in early December last year.

Mr. Jiao Yahui, head of the medical administration bureau According to China’s National Health Commission, there were 59,938 deaths from COVID-19 between December 8, 2022 and January 12 this year, of which 5,503 were attributable causes. From respiratory failure that is a direct result of COVID and another 54,435 people died from congenital disease in combination with COVID.

However, the figures above are listed as referring only to deaths in a health facility. The actual total death toll is expected to be higher.

China has been accused of under-reporting the number of deaths from COVID-19. After the abolition of the zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy, Chinese health officials on Wednesday insisted that accurate figures were not needed.

China has previously revised the way it categorizes COVID-19 deaths. It said only those who died from respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 will be counted. The World Health Organization has criticized the Chinese government’s new definition as being too narrow.

Additionally, WHO Director-General Tedrod Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO would swiftly request information on COVID treatments and deaths. More consistent and reliable from China anyway.