China recorded a notable rise in COVID-19 fatalities during June, with 239 reported deaths, signaling a concerning trend after the country had largely lifted containment measures. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention had previously reported 164 deaths in May, while April and March had witnessed no fatalities.
Having implemented a rigorous “zero-COVID” containment strategy in early 2020, China attributed its success in saving lives to strict lockdowns, quarantines, border closures, and widespread mandatory testing. However, the sudden lifting of these measures in December, without adequate preparation, resulted in a final surge in cases, leading to an estimated 60,000 deaths based on official figures. The peak of deaths occurred in January and February, reaching a high of 4,273 on January 4, but gradually declined to zero by February 23, as reported by the Chinese CDC.
Chinese health officials have not indicated whether they anticipate the trend to continue or if they will recommend reinstating preventive measures. Among the reported deaths in June, two were attributed to respiratory failure caused by infection, while the others were linked to underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses.
You can also read: Plane Crashes Shortly After Takeoff in Southern California
From January 3, 2020, to July 5, 2023, China officially reported 99,292,081 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 121,490 deaths to the World Health Organization. However, experts believe that the actual death toll in China may be significantly higher, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands or more. Despite this, the death rate in China remains lower compared to that of the United States and Europe.
