China faces a new Covid wave that could peak at 65 million cases a week

By Bukola Hameed

China is bracing for a new wave of Covid infections that could see as many as 65 million cases per week by the time the surge peaks at the end of June.

It is said that the new outbreak may be the greatest wave of illnesses ever recorded since China’s stringent zero-Covid programme was abandoned last winter, which resulted in up to 85 per cent of the population being sick at the time.

The surge comes about six months after the country dismantled its infrastructure for dealing with Covid, including harsh lockdowns, mass testing, stifling quarantines and strict mask requirements.

The new wave’s data was revealed by respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan at a medical conference this week in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Nanshan stated that the wave that started in late April was anticipated, and that his modeling suggested China could be approaching 40 million infections per week right now.

The public has, however, been reassured by health experts that reinfections have milder symptoms and that hospitals won’t be overloaded as they were during the previous winter.

Some medical facilities have recommended residents wearing masks and stay away.