The mainland on Wednesday reported three new Covid-19 deaths for December 27, compared with one death a day earlier.

Fatalities from the virus now number 5,245, as mainland hospitals come under intense pressure from Covid infections. Zhang Yuhua, an official at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, said patients who have come in recently are mainly the elderly and critically ill with underlying diseases.

According to state media, Zhang said the number of patients receiving emergency care had increased to over 500 a day, from roughly 100 before.

Pictures published by the China Daily newspaper showed rows of mostly elderly patients, some breathing through oxygen tubes, receiving treatment from medical staff in white hazmat suits inside the hospital's intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, online searches for flights have spiked after the mainland said it will stop requiring inbound travellers to quarantine starting from January 8, but US officials have said they may impose Covid-19 measures on visitors from China.

The announcement from the US comes after other countries imposed such restrictions, with India and Japan saying they would require a negative Covid test, with those testing positive in Japan having to undergo a week in quarantine.

US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, said there "are mounting concerns in the international community on the ongoing Covid-19 surges in China and the lack of transparent data".

In response, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday the epidemic situation in China is "overall predictable and under control".

"Hyping, smearing and political manipulation with ulterior motives can't stand the test of facts," Wang added. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2022-12-28 HKT 17:45