The corona situation in China got completely out of hand after the easing. Not only is the spread of the cases no longer trackable, the healthcare system is also on the verge of collapse. There is no longer any official information on infections and deaths, and the figures for the latter would have been greatly embellished. And the situation is likely to worsen further as the Middle Kingdom expects further waves of infection by spring.
By mid-December, China had embarked on a complete 180-degree turn in corona policy, the effects of which are now devastating. Because China is ill-prepared for the wave of corona cases: the underfunded hospitals lack the capacity to admit a large number of patients. In addition, millions of elderly people are still not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Among the particularly vulnerable group of people over 80, the vaccination rate is only 66 percent, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
Going to work with corona symptoms
Nevertheless, people with corona symptoms in China can now return to work. “Mildly symptomatic” government, party and state employees in the southern city of Chongqing, with a population of 32 million, could work normally “after taking personal protective measures in accordance with their physical condition,” the Chongqing Daily newspaper reported on Monday. with reference to the city administration. .
Residents were also asked not to have themselves tested “unnecessarily”. Even a negative test result no longer needs to be submitted. Exceptions only apply to certain facilities such as nursing homes, schools and prisons. Also in the eastern province of Zhejiang, a major economic center with a population of more than 60 million, it said on Sunday that people with mild symptoms “can continue to work if necessary, provided they take personal protective measures”.
Long queues for fever clinics
Authorities across the country have generally been encouraging people to self-isolate at home as they recover from the disease – an abrupt reversal by the Chinese leadership from its previous strict zero-Covid policy, when people had to move to government quarantine facilities. China has now completely lost control of the spread of corona cases, AFP reporters recently reported. About 50 people lined up at the fever wards of a clinic in Beijing, and one of them said everyone in line was “infected”. “If we weren’t there, we wouldn’t be here.”
The Chinese chief epidemiologist at the national health authority, Wu Zunyou, recommended booster vaccinations to the population, otherwise the state is rather cautious. On Monday, authorities reported the first Covid-related deaths since many measures were lifted earlier this month. But there are doubts about the official account. Eyewitnesses report that hearses are already lining up in front of the crematoria where the corona dead are being cremated.
Has China falsified the numbers of corona deaths?
The Financial Times, citing hospital workers and funeral homes, reported that the number of deaths from the coronavirus is likely to be significantly higher than officially stated. In addition, according to the report, antipyretics and corona self-tests are becoming scarce, especially in the big cities. The Chinese government did not comment on this, but the capital Beijing announced on Monday that it wanted to accelerate the global procurement of covid-19 medicines.
The GGD expects at least three more corona waves by spring. Especially after the Chinese New Year celebrations at the end of January, the numbers are likely to explode in leaps and bounds, reminiscent of the horrific images at the beginning of the pandemic.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
