Global News Insider

Photo by: Anadolu Agency

Author: Marián Šeliga

According to an independent forecasting firm Airfinity, since China abandoned its strict ZERO-COVID POLICY in early December last year, roughly 600, 000 people in the country have died from this disease. This information, although based on forecasts, is in a great contrast with official Chinese statistics published. According to the latest official data, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in China from December 8 to January 12 is about 60 000 people, but the statistics includes only the deaths of people with Covid occurred in hospitals.

The dichotomy between official statistics and forecasts based on data and analysis only reinforces the narrative that we do not have a clear understanding of what is really happening in China with the spread of COVID 19. One thing is clear: the Covid situation will not improve in the coming days and weeks as huge numbers of migrants travel from cities back to their homes in villages and small towns for Chinese New Year celebrations. This might trigger another massive wave of infections especially in rural areas. According to the already mentioned Airfinity report, deaths due Covid are forecast to peak at 36,000 a day on the 26th of January during the Lunar New Year Festival.