China Reports First Covid Deaths in Over a Month as Cases Rise
Beijing, China - China has reported its first Covid-19 deaths in over a month, as cases continue to rise in the country.
The National Health Commission (NHC) announced on Tuesday that two people had died from Covid-19 on Monday, the first fatalities since January 19. Both deaths were reported in the southwestern province of Sichuan.
The NHC also reported 88 new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases on Monday, up from 75 cases the previous day. The majority of the new cases were reported in Jilin province in the northeast, where an outbreak has been growing in recent weeks.
The rise in cases and deaths comes as China grapples with a new wave of Covid-19 infections, driven by the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2. The NHC has warned that the outbreak is still in a "developing stage" and that the risk of further spread remains high.
In response to the rising cases, Chinese authorities have implemented a range of measures, including lockdowns, travel restrictions, and mass testing. The government has also stepped up its vaccination campaign, with over 87% of the population now fully vaccinated.
However, experts have expressed concern that China's zero-Covid policy, which aims to eliminate all cases of the virus, is becoming increasingly unsustainable. The strict measures have caused significant economic disruption and have led to widespread frustration among the population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also urged China to adopt a more balanced approach to Covid-19 management, one that focuses on minimizing severe disease and deaths while allowing society to function as normally as possible.
As China continues to battle the new wave of Covid-19 infections, it remains to be seen whether the government will adjust its zero-Covid policy or adopt a more targeted approach to managing the virus.
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