China failing to reflect true impact of Covid crisis in published data, WHO says

Country using ‘very narrow’ definition to record Covid deaths, says WHO’s Michael Ryan

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the Chinese government’s Covid data collection does not reveal the full impact of the current virus outbreak and that the country has a “very narrow” definition of Covid-related deaths.

The WHO has received no complete data on Covid cases and deaths from Beijing so far, its emergencies director Michael Ryan said at a media briefing on Wednesday.

Millions are likely infected in the country with hundreds of dead bodies reportedly piling up in funeral parlours as experts monitoring the country’s Covid situation said the virus outbreak has brought Chinese health infrastructure to a grinding halt.