The world closes due to lack of data on Covid-19 and the departure of Chinese travelers

Peking. The United States joined the countries that systematically test travelers from China, a measure that an agency of the European Union (EU) considered “unjustified” despite the wave of Covid-19 that hits the Asian country.

The new outbreak broke out after China on December 7 ended, without warning, its draconian “zero covid” policy, in force since the first wave of the disease was first identified three years ago in the city of Wuhan. (center).

These measures made it possible to protect the population from the coronavirus, with widespread detection tests and monitoring of movements, as well as confinements and quarantines imposed to the letter when infections were discovered.

But that policy hit the economy and exhausted the population, which in November led protests unprecedented in three decades in the Asian giant.

The change in official position was abrupt and triggered the infections.

Although China’s National Health Commission has stopped publishing the daily number of infections, authorities in several cities estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have contracted the disease in recent weeks, while hospitals and crematoriums across the country are overwhelmed.

UK-based health data firm Airfinity reported that around 9,000 people in China are likely to die every day from Covid-19, nearly doubling its estimate from a week ago, as infections spread. spread across most of the nation.

Cumulative deaths in China since December 1 likely reached 100,000 with infections totaling 18.6 million, Airfinity said in a statement.

alerts on

The new wave of the pandemic raised fears of a new global health crisis, given the interest of many Chinese to travel abroad after the lifting of restrictions.

Japan, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy and the United States announced restrictive measures, such as the requirement to present a recent anticovid test or to undergo one at airports.

In Brussels, an informal meeting convened by the European Commission – aimed at achieving “a coordinated approach” by member states – did not lead to any decision.

Beijing criticized for its part the “exaggeration, defamation and political manipulation” of the Western press.

Chinese hospitals are struggling to cope with rising infections, which are especially affecting the elderly and vulnerable.