COVID-19: China's official death tolls raise questions in light of the virus epidemic.

 

With only two deaths reported since the government significantly eased its strict restrictions earlier this month despite long lines of vehicles forming at cremation sites, China's official COVID-19 death counts have raised questions in light of an apparent surge in infections in major cities.

The daily COVID-19 death count had remained at zero until Sunday, when health authorities reported two deaths, four days before the stringent "zero-COVID" policy was drastically relaxed on December 7.

The data did not take into account several stories that were reported in the local media about famous people dying from the virus.

Last week, China quit delivering information on asymptomatic Coronavirus cases, with many individuals done taking PCR tests.

According to a government notice issued on December 6, the Chinese news website Caixin reported on Sunday that individuals whose chronic illnesses had deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 infection may not be included in the official death counts.

A former senior editor and a former reporter at Chinese newspapers, as well as a 37-year-old former professional soccer player with diabetes, have all passed away as a result of contracting the virus since December 8.