China announces 59,938 COVID-related hospital death since Dec. 8,

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China announced that almost 60,000 people infected with COVID-19 died in hospitals after it suddenly ended its zero-COVID policy. The announcement comes in the wake of global criticisms of China’s coronavirus data.

The number of COVID deaths in Chinese hospitals between Dec. 8-12, 2008, was 59.938, with an average age of 80.3 of the deceased. Jiao Yahui from the Bureau of Medical Administration (NHC) spoke at a Saturday media briefing.

She claimed that 5503 fatalities were due to COVID-related respiratory failure, and 54,435 were due to a combination COVID/other diseases.

90.1% of those who died were over 65.

China reported the last daily COVID deaths statistics on Monday.

The authorities had reported five or fewer deaths per day for the past month. These figures are inconsistent with long queues at funeral homes, and body bags that leave crowded hospitals.

In December officials stated they were planning monthly updates, not daily, and that this was the case.

Although international experts have forecast at least 1,000,000 COVID-related death this year, China previously reported just over 10,000 deaths from the pandemic, one of lowest death rates worldwide.

(Reporting and editing by Tony Munroe; Helen Popper and Mark Heinrich).

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