BEIJING – Chinas health authorities on Saturday reported almost 60,000 Covid-19-related deaths in just over a month, the first major death toll released by the government since the loosening of its virus restrictions in early December.
There were a total of 59,938 Covid-19-related deaths between Dec 8, 2022 and Jan 12 this year, Ms Jiao Yahui, head of the Bureau of Medical Administration under the National Health Commission, told a press conference.
Those who died had an average age of 80.3, she said, adding that 5,503 of the fatalities were caused by respiratory failure due to Covid-19, while 54,435 resulted from a combination of Covid-19 and other diseases.
Of the patients who died, 90.1 per cent were aged 65 and older.
Ms Jiao also said Covid-19 fever and emergency hospitalisations had peaked in China and that the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients was continuing to decline.
Nationwide, the number of fever clinic visitors is generally in a declining trend after peaking, both in cities and rural areas, she said.
Ms Jiao said the number of emergency treatment patients was also declining and that the ratio of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 was steadily falling as well.
The number of severe cases has also peaked, she added, though remained at a high level, and patients were mostly elderly.
Mr Wen Daxiang, a Shanghai Health Commission official, said China would strengthen health monitoring and management of the high-risk population.
He added that China would bolster the supply of drugs and medical equipment, and beef up training of grassroots medical workers to combat Covid-19 in rural regions.
China last reported daily figures of Covid-19 deaths on Monday.
Authorities had been reporting five or fewer deaths a day over the past month – figures inconsistent with long queues seen at funeral homes and body bags seen leaving crowded hospitals.
In December, officials said they planned monthly, rather than daily updates.
While international health experts have predicted at least 1 million Covid-related deaths this year, China had previously reported just over 5,000 since the pandemic began, one of the lowest death rates in the world.AFP, REUTERS More On This Topic Chinese fret over infecting elderly kin as holidays prompt Covid-19 warnings China Covid-19 peak to last 2 to 3 months, hit rural areas next Related Stories Kraken coronavirus subvariant: Why it is causing concern All around the world, Covid-19 surveillance is faltering We may be entering Covid-19s least predictable year yet Will a China Covid-19 wave set back endemic living in Singapore? Covid-19 variants in China also detected in Malaysia How bad is Chinas Covid-19 outbreak? Its a scientific guessing game As Covid-19 continues to spread, so does misinformation about it Covid-19s true death toll still elusive, three years on Long Covid remains a mystery, though theories are emerging Covid-19's harmful effects on the brain reverberate years later: Study
