Data on infection levels in the field differ significantly from those reported by central authorities.
China, whose authorities were forced to abandon the “zero-covid” policy amid protests, has seen an unprecedented number of new cases of coronavirus infection.
In Henan province, China’s third most populous, nearly 90% of the population is now infected, according to official figures.
Local officials told reporters at a press conference that the number of confirmed cases in Hubei Province is about 88.5 million, with the majority of those infected in recent weeks.
However, it appears that the peak of the outbreak, which occurred on December 19, has passed, and the flow of patients to provincial clinics is gradually decreasing.
The numbers provided by local officials differ greatly from the statistics released by the central authorities.
In a country of about 1.4 billion people, only 120,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus and only 30 people have died from it since the “zero COVID” policy was lifted, according to official figures from the center.
However, Chinese authorities have begun to interpret “death from COVID” quite narrowly, and many patients who have died from coronavirus may not be included in official statistics.
In addition, mandatory mass testing for COVID has been discontinued, and government data no longer reflect the true epidemiologic picture and scale of the new outbreak.
The statements of the local and provincial authorities, which clearly contradict the official statistics of the Center, do not provide any clarity or messages.
For example, authorities in one of China’s largest port cities, Qingdao, reported on the eve of Christmas that the number of infected people was rising by half a million a day, but these figures were quickly retracted.
At the same time, officials at China’s Ministry of Health say they will not include Pfizer’s antiviral drug Paxlovid in basic health insurance because of its high cost.
Demand for the drug, which will still be covered by medical insurance until March 31, surged after a sharp increase in new coronavirus infections in the country in December.
Local government information on COVID differs greatly from central statistics.
The company Pfizer noted in its statement that it will continue to work with the Chinese authorities and relevant shareholders to “ensure adequate supply” of this drug in China.
On Sunday, the Chinese authorities also lifted the mandatory quarantine for all people entering the country from abroad and opened the border with Hong Kong.
According to official data, on Saturday, the day before the restrictions were lifted, the volume of internal traffic reached 34.7 million people, a third more than in the same period last year.
The coronavirus situation in China is expected to worsen significantly at the end of the month, when the entire country celebrates the Lunar New Year and millions of people travel from the cities to visit their elderly relatives in the villages.
It is estimated that more than two billion individual trips will be made during this period.
To continue receiving BBC News, subscribe to our channels:
Subscribe to our “Context” newsletter: it will help you understand what is happening.