COVID-19 caused 59,938 deaths between Dec. 8, Jan. 12, China reveals

ANKARA (AA) – China on Saturday said that COVID-19 caused 59,938 deaths between Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 12, revealing the figure for the first time since the latest outbreak in the country.

According to the National Health Commission of China, the average age of people who lost their lives was 80.3 years old, with 90.1% of fatalities above 65 years old while more than 90% suffered from underlying conditions, state-run Global Times reported.

The number of critical patients also reached 128,000 on Jan. 5, said the health authorities.

However, on Jan. 12, it declined to 105,000 while 75.3% of beds in hospitals were occupied by severe cases.

The number of COVID-19 cases detected at fever clinics is also declining, the NHC said, detailing that 33.9% of fever clinics patients were COVID-19 positive on Dec 20, and the rate has fallen to 10.8% as of Jan 12, which indicates that peak infection levels have already occurred.

China dumped its "zero-COVID" policy, allowing full international travel from last Sunday.

However, the world’s largest populated nation has seen an uptick in daily virus cases.