In a big development, China reported a rise in COVID-19 deaths in June, signaling a resurgence of the virus months after the country lifted most containment measures.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that 239 individuals lost their lives to the virus in June, a stark contrast to the reported 164 deaths in May and the absence of any fatalities in April and March, ABC News reported Thursday.
China’s “zero-COVID” containment strategy, which involved strict lockdowns, quarantines, border closures, and widespread testing, was credited with saving countless lives since its implementation in early 2020. Nevertheless, the sudden lifting of those measures in December without adequate preparation led to a final surge, leading to an estimated 60,000 deaths, as per official records.
The height of deaths this 12 months was witnessed in January and February, with a record high of 4,273 deaths on Jan. 4. Subsequently, the numbers regularly declined, reaching zero on Feb. 23, based on the Chinese CDC.
It stays unclear whether Chinese health officials expect this upward trend in deaths to persist or if they may recommend the reinstatement of preventive measures. Among the many deaths reported in June, two were brought on by respiratory failure resulting from infection, while the remaining cases were attributed to underlying conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses.
In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), between Jan. 3, 2020, and July 5, 2023, China reported a complete of 99,292,081 confirmed cases of COVID-19, together with 121,490 deaths. Nevertheless, experts imagine that the official toll significantly underrepresents the actual variety of deaths, estimating that tons of of hundreds, if no more, can have succumbed to the virus in China. Nevertheless, the death rate in China stays significantly lower than that observed in america and Europe.
The news got here greater than every week after a researcher from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) made revelations regarding the origins of the novel coronavirus and its potential connection to China’s alleged development of a highly contagious bioweapon.
Chao Shao, the researcher, disclosed that the institute’s scientists were tasked with identifying a coronavirus strain with maximum spreading capabilities for potential use as a bioweapon. This disclosure raised concerns concerning the facility’s intentions just before the COVID-19 pandemic’s outbreak in 2020.
It’s price noting that despite these revelations, a 10-page report from U.S. intelligence agencies has up to now failed to substantiate the Wuhan lab leak theory because the origin of COVID-19.
Published by Medicaldaily.com