China reports 70% drop in severe Covid cases and fatalities

China’s government says the number of severe Covid-19 cases and coronavirus-related deaths has dropped by over 70% since peaking earlier this month.

More specifically, the government says critically ill cases have dropped by 72%, while covid-related fatalities have dropped by 79% from their respective peaks.

According to Reuters, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the figures on its website after a well-known government scientist claimed that 80% of the country’s 1.4 billion people have already been infected with the virus.

Now, government experts say the possibility of the virus rearing its ugly head in a rebound over the next few months is quite remote.

But, despite the seemingly good news, global experts warn of a surge in cases in rural areas due to smaller hospitals’ lack of supplies and staff.

On January 4, the CDC said the number of critically ill patients peaked at 128,000 and fell to 36,000 by January 23. The Centre also reported that the number of deaths in hospitals reached a daily peak of 4,273 on January 4, while falling to 896 on January 23.

The CDC went on to report that the number of new infections “exceeded seven million per day and the number of daily fever outpatient consultations peaking at 2.867 million” on December 22, 2022.

Last week, an official at the National Health Commission said that China had passed the peak of Covid patients in fever clinics, emergency rooms and those in critical condition.

But, on January 12, authorities reported that almost 60,000 people with Covid had died in hospitals since the country abruptly reversed its Zero-Covid policy. Still, experts say that number does not represent the total impact of the virus as it did not include those who died at home.

Moreover, many doctors have reported that their places of work have discouraged them from attributing deaths to Covid on death certificates, further muddying the waters of accurate governmental reports.