Beijing’s 47% Drop in Covid Cases Questioned as Signs Point to Virus Resurgence
- Official tally shows sharp decline in infections this month
- Residents stockpile, while doctors prepare for a virus wave
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A sudden drop in Beijing’s official daily case numbers to less than 3,000 has sparked incredulity from members of the public who are seeing infection spread quickly through the capital, with even one of the government’s most prominent defenders questioning the veracity of the data.
Official figures show the tally has almost halved since the recent peak of 5,006 cases on Nov. 30, despite a sudden U-turn in the country’s Covid Zero policy that’s seen testing reined in and travel and isolation curbs eased. Those numbers are not squaring with experiences on the ground, as long lines grow outside of pharmacies and fever clinics, and hospitals prepare for a wave of cases, while medication and rapid tests are running out of supply.