China reported close to 220,000 weekly Covid cases last month: WHO

The World Health Organisation in its weekly report said that China recorded 218,019 new weekly Covid-19 cases until January 1. The UN has been demanding better transparency and frequent reports from Beijing since the new outbreak began.

The official death count of 5,258 including five new deaths on Tuesday is also very low by global standards. The reports from hospitals and crematoriums also do not match the data released by the authorities.

In December 2022, the WHO said it received no data from Beijing on new Covid-19 hospitalisations since lifting the zero-covid policy. While some experts doubted that Beijing is hiding real information, the WHO opined that the gaps in data might be due to authorities struggling to tally cases, reported Reuters.

Recently, a Chuiyangliu hospital in Beijing reported that it has run out of beds and patients including the elderly are lying on stretchers in hallways. Despite concerns, Hong Kong has announced that it will reopen its borders with mainland China on Sunday. This will allow tens of thousands of people to cross from each side every day without being quarantined.

Authorities in Shouxian county in Anhui province southeast of Beijing and the cities of Qingyang in Gansu province in the northwest and Weifang in Shandong on the east coast appealed that residents should avoid visiting relatives and travelling between regions. People were also asked to celebrate holidays via video and phone gatherings.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the country's epidemic situation is controllable and the country is hoping that the WHO will uphold a scientific, objective, and impartial position. "Facts have proved that China has always, in accordance with the principles of legality, timeliness, openness, and transparency, maintained close communication and shared relevant information and data with the WHO in a timely manner."