Nearly 90% of residents in Henan, one of China’s most populous provinces, have already been infected with Covid-19, a regional health authority said on Monday, after the country ended the ‘zero zero’ policy. cases’.
The number of patients in China has grown exponentially, overwhelming the health system and crematoriums, after the country lifted highly restrictive epidemic prevention measures, including mass testing and lockdown of entire cities.
In Henan, China’s third most populous province, 89% of the population had been infected with the novel coronavirus as of Jan. 6, said Kan Quancheng, an official with the local health authority.
This percentage represents around 88.5 million people.
The number of medical consultations for fever peaked on Dec. 19 and has been steadily declining in Henan ever since, the official was quoted as saying by local media.
Authorities expect a new wave of cases during the Lunar New Year, which falls on January 22 of this year. The main festival for Chinese families, this period is the largest annual migration on the planet, as millions of Chinese return to their home countries.
China, population 1.4 billion, has officially recorded just 30 deaths from Covid-19 since the lifting of health restrictions last December, despite an unprecedented wave of cases in the country.
These numbers do not reflect the situation of many experts and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Source: TSF
