After isolating itself in much of the rest of the world during the pandemic, China is now experiencing the largest surge in infections on the planet after lifting restrictions that torpedoed the economy.
Studies have estimated that around a million people could die in the coming months. Many members of the population now suffer from shortages of medicines, while emergency medical services are affected by the influx of elderly patients with insufficient vaccinations.
“At present, prevention and COVID-19 in China are facing a new scenario and new tasks,” Xi said in a directive, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“We want to launch the patriotic fitness crusade in a more targeted way. a network line of defense for epidemic prevention and control, and well protect people’s lives, protection and fitness,” M. Xi said.
Hospitals and crematoria across the country are teeming with Covid patients and victims, while China’s National Health Commission announced on Sunday that it would prevent the publication of statistics on infections and deaths across the country.
The resolution to suppress the daily number of viruses comes amid fears that the wave of infections unfolding in the country will not be as it should be reflected in official statistics.
Beijing has admitted that the scale of the outbreak is “impossible” to trace after the mandatory mass verification ends, as other people are no longer required to report the effects of the verification to authorities.
And last week, Beijing tightened the criteria through which covid-19 deaths were counted, a resolution that experts say would be the number of deaths attributable to the virus.
The winter wave comes ahead of the first two public holidays next month, when millions of migrant workers are expected to travel to their home cities to be reunited with loved ones.
Authorities are preparing for the virus to hit underfunded rural spaces hard and on Monday called for a guaranteed source of medicines and medical remedies on New Year’s Day and the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which begins Jan. 21.
The ruling Communist Party and the State Council issued a call to officials to “ensure orderly and orderly adjustment and transition of prevention and epidemic measures. “
In recent days, health officials in the wealthy coastal province of Zhejiang have estimated that a million more people are inflamed every day, while the coastal city of Qingdao forecasts around 500,000 new infections and the productive southern city of Dongguan between 250,000 and 300,000.
Unofficial polls and models based on search engine terms suggest the wave may have already peaked in some major cities, adding Beijing and Chongqing.
A survey of more than 150,000 citizens of southwestern Sichuan province conducted through disease officials showed that 63% had tested positive for covid and estimated that infections peaked on Friday.
Only six covid deaths have been officially reported since Beijing lifted the maximum of its restrictions earlier this month.
But crematorium staff interviewed by AFP reported an influx of bodies, while hospitals said they were counting several deaths per day as emergency rooms fill up.
The main funeral service center in the southern city of Guangzhou postponed all ceremonies until Jan. 10 to hold cremations due to the “heavy workload,” according to a report posted online Sunday.
Chinese censors and spokesmen have worked overtime to pass the resolution to remove strict restrictions, quarantines and instant lockdowns as a victory, even as cases skyrocket.