Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 14: China said it had recorded almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12. This is the first time China released a death toll since its abrupt pivot away from the zero-Covid policy last month.
Director of the National Health Commission’s medical affairs department Jiao Yahui said, ‘China recorded 5,503 deaths as a result of respiratory failure triggered by Covid infection. Further, 54,435 deaths of people infected with Covid but with underlying conditions, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases.”
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Due to China’s new, strict rules, the official death count will only cover deaths without any other underlying diseases. According to the South China Morning Post, the average age of those who passed away was 80.3, and 90% of the fatalities were those 65 or older.
This comes at a time when China has been criticised for its lack of transparency on the most recent outbreak, which has reportedly caused hospitals and cemeteries around the nation to become overcrowded. Travelers from China are subject to limitations from several nations, who are urging Beijing to increase data sharing with the rest of the world.
