BEIJING (AP) — The World Health Organization has asked China to continue to release information on the rise in COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December, following weeks of complaints that he failed to tell the world what was going on.
Saturday’s announcement was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party suddenly lifted restrictions on the virus in December, despite a surge in infections hitting hospitals. This prompted the WHO and other governments to request information, while the United States, South Korea and others imposed controls on visitors from China.
The government said 5,503 people died from respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and there were 54,435 deaths from cancer, heart disease and other conditions combined with COVID-19 between December 8 and January 12.
The announcement “allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation”, according to a WHO statement. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reportedly spoke on the phone with Health Minister Ma Xiaowei.
“WHO has requested that this type of detailed information be further shared with us and the public,” the agency said.
The National Health Commission said only hospital deaths were counted, meaning anyone who died at home would not be included. It gave no indication of when or if it might release updated numbers.
A health official said the “national emergency peak has passed” based on an 83 percent drop in the daily number of people going to fever clinics since the peak on Dec. 23.
The report would double China’s official death toll from COVID-19 to 10,775 since the disease was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019. China only counted pneumonia or respiratory deaths in its tally officially, which excludes many deaths. that could be attributed to the virus in other countries.
I’m a passionate and motivated journalist with a focus on world news. My experience spans across various media outlets, including Buna Times where I serve as an author. Over the years, I have become well-versed in researching and reporting on global topics, ranging from international politics to current events.