Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
17 February 2023 | 22:30 CAT

China has declared a “decisive victory” over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as it claims it has the world’s lowest death rate.

Picture: Reuters news agency.

However, experts have questioned Beijing’s data as the infection rate of the coronavirus across the country has been kept discreet for three years.

In December 2022, the world’s most populated nation ended its zero-COVID policy, recording 80% of its 1.4 billion population becoming infected.

“With continuous efforts to optimise COVID-19 prevention and control measures since November 2022, China’s COVID-19 response has made a smooth transition in a relatively short time,” said China’s Politburo Standing Committee (PSC).

Even though China has widespread reports of packed hospital wards and mortuaries, the country recorded only about 80,000 COVID deaths in hospitals in the two months after dropping its curbs.

This has led to some experts saying the actual number was far higher because many patients died at home while doctors were reportedly discouraged from reporting COVID as a cause of death.

The PSC, China’s most powerful leadership body, has urged all localities and departments to strengthen the medical service system, according to the report from the official Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, China it’s set to hold its annual parliamentary session in a few week as policymakers look to recover the economy after three years of COVID restrictions.

In November 2022, China was forced to change its signature “zero-COVID” policy after protests erupted in more than 20 Chinese cities following an apartment building fire that killed at least 10 people. Reports claimed that victims had been locked in their apartments as part of COVID measures, but authorities have denied these accusations.