China ‘behind curve’ on coronavirus surge as ICUs ‘filling up’

Coronavirus: Experts detect virus using nanotechnology bubbles

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

China is “behind the curve” on its ongoing coronavirus surge as intensive care units start to fill up, a senior official from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

It is believed Beijing’s official figures might have become unreliable since Xi Jinping started to dismantle his zero-Covid lockdown strategy.

Experts fear Covid-related deaths next year could exceed a million.

Mike Ryan, the WHO emergencies director, said: “In China, what’s been reported is relatively low numbers of cases in ICUs but anecdotally ICUs are filling up.

“I wouldn’t like to say that China is actively not telling us what’s going on. I think they’re behind the curve.”

Speaking from Geneva, Mr Ryan also claimed China’s lagging vaccination rate could explain the surge.

JUST IN: Shock as wife of Russian defence official was on luxury holiday as bombs fell on Kyiv

He said: “That’s just not adequate protection in a population as large as China, with so many vulnerable people.”

Ryan added: “Vaccination is the exit strategy from Omicron.”

China has recently moved to dramatically increase its capacity to inoculate people.

The WHO said it was ready to work with Beijing in a bid to improve China’s collection of data.

Despite a lag between data and direct impact, the latest coronavirus cases have proved lethal.

According to the Guardian, dozens of hearses queued outside a Beijing crematorium on Wednesday.

The report comes at a time when China failed to report any new deaths in its growing outbreak.

However, it was not possible to verify whether the deaths were caused by COVID-19.

DON’T MISS:
Touching moment as Zelensky hands Pelosi Ukrainian flag [INSIGHT]
Christmas getaway rips off drivers with fuel prices, RAC claims [REVEAL]
Ukraine live: Russian war casualties approach 100,000 mark [SPOTLIGHT]

Reports also claim that residents in Beijing face waiting days to cremate relatives.

Reuters has revealed that a worker at the large Babaoshan funeral parlour in the Chinese capital advertised that customers could skip the long queueing and registration process for a 26,000 yuan ($3,730) fee.

Source: Read Full Article