Covid-19 in China Estimated to Be Peaking at 4.2M Cases Daily

The latest wave of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in China has reached a peak with an estimated 4.2 million cases per day, reported the Airfinity health research institute in London on Wednesday.

Their predictive model suggests that the virus’s toll would reach a maximum of 36,000 deaths on Thursday and, since the beginning of December, approximately 848,000 people have succumbed to the virus in China.

Experts believe that domestic travel during the Chinese New Year celebrations has accelerated the virus’s spread, impacting up to 80% of the Chinese population, according to Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is estimated that this percentage of the population represents more than one billion people. Airfinity also cautioned that they are anticipating one large and prolonged wave of infection instead of two, which would increase pressure on hospitals and lead to a higher death rate.

Seven weeks ago, China ceased imposing forced quarantines and widespread testing, after pursuing a strict lockdown strategy for almost three years. Since then, reports have surfaced of crowded hospitals, overloaded crematoria, and shortages of medicines.

Official figures on the pandemic’s progress are no longer being published, and figures released by the health authority are mistrusted by foreign experts. (dpa/NAN)