Today, Monday, December 19, China recorded the first deaths since the easing of strict measures in place within the framework of the “zero Covid” policy, at a time when hospitals are facing difficulties due to an unprecedented wave of infections.
And the authorities of the "Asian giant" abruptly retreated in early December, abandoning most of the strict health restrictions that it had imposed nearly 3 years ago, with the emergence of the first cases of coronavirus infection in Wuhan, in the center of the country, at the end of 2019.
Since the removal of restrictions in China, very large cases of Covid-19 have been recorded, but it is "impossible" to determine the extent of the spread, with the authorities admitting that diagnostic tests are no longer mandatory.
Experts fear that China is not sufficiently prepared for a wave of infections linked to the country's reopening, while millions of elderly and vulnerable people remain unvaccinated.
Yesterday, Monday, the Chinese capital authorities announced the first two victims since the lifting of Corona restrictions (French)
Yesterday, the authorities announced the death of two patients in Beijing, the first two victims, since restrictions were lifted on December 7, according to official figures.
Since that date, Beijing, with a population of 22 million, has witnessed an unprecedented wave of infections since the start of the pandemic, and it has spread greatly in recent days.
Testimonies indicate that deaths have risen again in hospitals, and crematoriums seem unable to meet the demand, and pharmacies suffer from a shortage of medicines.
"The (official) numbers do not reveal the full picture," says Leong Ho Nam, an infectious disease specialist based in Singapore, expecting the outcome to be much higher, and noting that some hospitals are unable to receive new patients, and the treating staff may have misjudged the size of Covid-19.
And the infectious disease specialist explained - in a statement to the French News Agency - that as a result, if one of them died "from a heart attack resulting from the tension caused by infection with Covid-19, the heart attack will be considered the main (approved) cause of death, although Covid is the underlying cause."
Since the restrictions were lifted, the Chinese authorities have been trying to stress the non-dangerous nature of the virus (French)
Since the restrictions were lifted, the Chinese authorities have been trying to stress the non-hazardous nature of the virus, although it is highly contagious.
Chongqing (southwest), with a population of more than 30 million, is among the first regions to allow a return to work even if a person shows symptoms of Covid.
"Patients who do not show symptoms or have mild symptoms can go to work normally," said a note by the district authorities published Sunday by the local "Chongqing Daily" newspaper.
In Beijing, the authorities urged the population to "return to normal life and production as soon as possible," noting that patients who have recovered will not need to be tested to enter public places.
It also encouraged the resumption of conferences and weddings.
In Zhejiang province, at the border with Shanghai, the authorities decided that people with mild symptoms "can continue to work" provided they take "precautionary measures".
A senior epidemiologist warns that China is facing the first 3 "Covid" waves expected this winter (French)
3 waves await China
Wu Zunyou, one of the country's top epidemiologists, warned that China is facing the "first of 3 waves" of COVID expected this winter.
It is expected that the current wave will continue until mid-January, especially in cities, before the movements associated with the end of the lunar year holiday, on the 22nd of the same month, cause a second wave in February 2023.
As for the third wave, it is expected between the end of February and the middle of March, when people who were infected during the holiday return to their workplace, according to the "Caijing" economic newspaper.
While many Chinese are confined to their homes for fear of catching Covid, others are otherwise trying to restore a more or less normal life.
In Shanghai, about one thousand and 500 people followed yesterday - in a bar - the final match of the World Cup between Argentina and France.
Vicky Gong, a fan of Argentina and Lionel Messi, tells Agence France-Presse that she wants to enjoy a "festive" atmosphere after she contracted Covid.
"It's the first big soiree" in Shanghai since restrictions were lifted, explained one of the managers of the tavern, Renty-Paul Boldwar.
With the pandemic, he emphasized, "people are going crazy."