WHO Asks China To Provide More Covid-19 Data After 60,000 Fatalities Logged In A Month

WHO called upon China to provide more data on its Covid situation and asserted the need for cooperation and transparency. This comes as China reels under its worst-ever crisis caused by Covid-19.

File Photo of WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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New Delhi: World Health Organisation on Saturday called upon China to provide more data on its Covid situation and asserted the need for deeper cooperation and transparency. This comes as China reels under its worst-ever crisis caused by Covid-19 after the government scrapped the Zero-Covid policy. According to health authorities, China recorded around 60,000 deaths between December 8, 2022, and January 12, 2023.

Since the beginning of Covid-19, China has been accused of hiding the exact number of deaths due to Covid-19. After scrapping its "zero-Covid" policy, the situation in the country has worsened. Several footage and reports have shown that the authorities in China have been hiding Covid-related information and figures.

Despite evidence of crematoriums and hospitals being overrun, only a few dozen deaths had been recorded officially in December before Saturday's announcement. But a National Health Commission (NHC) official said Saturday that China had recorded 59,938 Covid-related deaths between December 8 and January 12.

The figure refers only to deaths at medical facilities, with the total number likely to be higher. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the request in a conversation with Ma Xiaowei, director of China's National Health Commission, said a statement from the organisation, as reported by the news agency AFP.

"Dr. Tedros also reiterated the importance of China's deeper cooperation and transparency," said the statement. The World Health Organization, in its statement, said it is "analysing this information, which covers early December 2022 to 12 January 2023, and allows for a better understanding of the epidemiological situation and the impact of this wave in China, AFP reported.

"WHO requested that this type of detailed information continue to be shared with us and the public," the statement added. "WHO notes the efforts by Chinese authorities to scale up clinical care for its population at all levels, including in critical care."

China on Saturday announced that nearly 60,000 Covid-19 deaths were reported since the country lifted its strict "Zero Covid Policy" on December 7, last year, Global Times reported citing National Health Commission. The National Health Commission of China revealed a total of 59,938 COVID-19-related deaths between December 8, 2022, and January 12 this year, explaining that the spike in cases is because of relaxing the Covid policy on December 7.

(With agencies’ Inputs)