China’s peak COVID-19 cases exceeded 7M daily, deaths more than 4K daily

Nearly 60,000 people with COVID had died in hospital as of Jan. 12, roughly a month after China abruptly dismantled its strict zero-COVID policy, according to government data.

China’s daily new COVID-19 infections hit a peak of more than 7 million per day around Dec. 22, while deaths reached a daily peak of more than 4,000 on Jan. 4, the country’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.The figures, published on the centre’s website, come after a prominent government scientist said over the weekend that 80 per cent of China’s 1.4 billion population have already been infected, making the possibility of a big COVID-19 rebound over the next two or three months remote.Read more: COVID-19 in China: Expert says 80% of population have been infectedRead next: Paris Hilton welcomes 1st baby in adorable Instagram post“Around Dec. 22, 2022, the number of infected people and the number of fever outpatient consultations reached a peak,” it said with the number of new infections “exceeding 7 million per day and the number of daily fever outpatient consultations peaking at 2.867 million.”Trending NowRussia warns West of ‘global catastrophe’ for arming Ukraine22% of Canadians say they’re ‘completely out of money’ as inflation bites: pollStory continues below advertisementChina has passed the peak of COVID patients in fever clinics, emergency rooms and with critical conditions, a National Health Commission official said last week.Nearly 60,000 people with COVID had died in hospital as of Jan. 12, roughly a month after China abruptly dismantled its strict zero-COVID policy, according to government data. 1:13China sees 1st population drop in decades as residents reluctant to have more childrenBut some experts said that figure probably vastly undercounts the full impact, as it excludes those who die at home and because many doctors have said they are discouraged from citing COVID as a cause of death.