COVID-19 Hospitalizations in China Up 46%... WHO Says "Impact Underestimated"

At the end of last month, a passenger wearing full protective gear stood at Beijing Train Station in China.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] A survey revealed that the number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations in China has increased by more than 40%.

According to the "China COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report" released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 5th, the number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations in China from December 16 last year to January 1 this year was 22,416. This is about a 46% increase from 15,161 the previous week. It was reported that there were 218,019 new infections and 648 deaths.

WHO had not received new hospitalization data from China since early last month when China decided to lift its so-called 'zero COVID' policy, but recently received the data again. However, there are differing opinions on whether the data from Chinese health authorities accurately reflect the actual situation.

Michael Ryan, head of the WHO Emergency Response Team, pointed out at a briefing the day before, “The statistics currently released in China are believed to underestimate the true impact of COVID-19 in terms of the number of hospitalized patients, intensive care admissions, and deaths.”