China's cumulative COVID cases hit 900m, over 60% of population: estimate

Private-sector data suggests infection rates of 80-90% in some provinces

Medical workers attend to COVID-19 patients at an intensive care unit converted from a conference room at a hospital in Cangzhou, China, on Jan. 11. (Photo by China Daily via Reuters)

SHIN WATANABE, Nikkei staff writer

January 14, 2023 01:03 JST

 

DALIAN, China -- Around 900 million people in China, or 64% of the population, had contracted COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic as of Wednesday, according to a report by local researchers.

A team led by Peking University assistant professor Ma Jingjing compiled the figure using private-sector estimates on infection rates, the Chinese newspaper Economic Observer reported. The estimates were based on online search data for key phrases, like "fever."

The new report also provided infection rate estimates for different provinces, including around 91% in Gansu province, around 84% in Yunnan province, and around 80% in Qinghai province.

Coronavirus cases have been surging across China since the government eased its strict zero-COVID restrictions last month. The country saw 3.73 million new infections and  21,300 deaths on Friday, British research company Airfinity estimated -- up from 2.42 million infections and 15,850 deaths on Jan. 5.

Cumulative deaths since December have topped 345,000, and are expected to reach 1.7 million by the end of April, Airfinity said.

Local governments in China continue to report rapid rises in infections. Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, said Thursday that its infection rate stood between 74% and 81%. Henan province on Monday reported an 89% infection rate.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has not published daily infections and deaths since Sunday, making it difficult to grasp the extent of the spread nationwide.

The World Health Organization has expressed doubts over the accuracy of data coming out of China. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs hit back at these comments Thursday, with spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying Beijing hopes the WHO'S statements"reflect objectivity and impartiality."

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/China-s-cumulative-COVID-cases-hit-900m-over-60-of-population-estimate

China slams WHO for doubting 'transparent' COVID data

U.N. health agency accuses Beijing of underreporting coronavirus deaths

TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writerJanuary 13, 2023 00:50 JST

 

BEIJING -- China's Foreign Ministry responded sharply on Thursday to the World Health Organization's skepticism about the country's disclosure of COVID-19 data, calling on the WHO to examine all the facts "rationally" before making critiques.

"We hope that the WHO will look at China's COVID response scientifically and rationally and that its related statements will reflect objectivity and impartiality," ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters.

This statement follows a news briefing Wednesday in which WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated serious doubts about the official coronavirus death count reported by China.

The total worldwide deaths reported to the organization during the previous week are "almost certainly an underestimate given the underreporting of COVID-related deaths in China," Tedros said.

WHO officials voiced similar concerns last week over the validity of the infection and death data China reported to the United Nations agency.

"China has been sharing relevant information and data in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the law," Wang said Thursday, adding that the country also has "served as a major source of COVID response supplies for the world."

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has ceased announcing the daily number of new COVID infections and deaths following the release of Sunday's data.

Authorities plan to release data monthly, though it remains unclear how comprehensive the data will be.

The wave of COVID cases in China appears widespread. In Henan, a central Chinese province home to nearly 100 million people, a local official revealed that the infection rate approached 90%. Western nations and other countries have petitioned Beijing to share more data on the outbreak.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/China-slams-WHO-for-doubting-transparent-COVID-data