China on Saturday reported nearly 60,000 Covid-19 deaths on Saturday following complaints the government was failing to release data about the status of the pandemic. The deaths were reported for the period between December 8 and January 12.
The South China Morning Post quoting Jiao Yahui, director of the National Health Commission’s medical affairs department reported that medical institutes had recorded 5,503 deaths as a result of respiratory failure triggered by Covid infection and 54,435 deaths of people infected with Covid-19 but with underlying conditions, such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases.
The National Health Commission said the deaths occurred in hospitals, which left open the possibility more people also might have died at home.
The report would more than double China's official Covid-19 death toll to 10,775. The official toll stood at 5,272 on January 8.
Over 90 per cent of the deceased were aged above 65 years and the average age was 80.3, SCMP reported.
The Chinese government stopped reporting data on Covid-19 infections and deaths in early December after abruptly lifting anti-virus controls. The World Health Organisation and other governments appealed to Beijing for more information amid a surge in infections.
Several countries including India have imposed restrictions on travellers from China and have mandated Covid tests for passengers from China.
