Prognosis
China Cuts Covid Death Toll by One as Doubts Grow Over Actual Count
- True tally elusive with reports suggesting higher number
- Only respiratory-linked deaths counted in new definition
This article is for subscribers only.
China removed a single fatality from its total Covid-19 death toll, a day after Beijing said it adopted a much narrower definition for mortalities, amid concerns the government is trying to downplay the severity of the impact from its abrupt pandemic pivot.
The National Health Commission, China’s top health regulator, said on Wednesday that total Covid deaths now stand at 5,241 as of Tuesday, one less than the prior day, without explaining the rationale behind the reduction.