Via the South China Morning Post: China records almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths after abrupt shift in policy. I wish I could believe it. Excerpt:
China said on Saturday it had recorded almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12, and the current wave has already peaked.
It is the first time China has released a death toll since its abrupt pivot away from the zero-Covid policy last month.
Jiao Yahui, director of the National Health Commission’s medical affairs department, said medical institutes had recorded 5,503 deaths as a result of respiratory failure triggered by Covid infection and 54,435 deaths of people infected with Covid-19 but with underlying conditions, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
The average age of those who died was 80.3, and 90 per cent of fatalities were aged 65 or over.
Jiao also said the current wave of cases had peaked. “The number of fever clinic visitors is generally on a downward trend after peaking, both in cities and rural areas,” she added.
Jiao said the number of emergency patients was also declining and the ratio of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 was steadily falling as well.
Jiao said there had been 128,000 patients with severe Covid-19 on January 5, but the number had dropped to 105,000 by January 12.
The use rate for intensive care hospital beds was 75.3 per cent, she added.
Among the critically ill Covid-19 patients on January 12, there were 97,000 patients with severe underlying conditions, accounting for 92.8 per cent. The remainder, some 7,357 people, had Covid only.
