Beijing may see a surge in severe COVID-19 cases over next fortnight: respiratory expert

Beijing: Beijing may see a surge in severe COVID-19 cases over the next fortnight, a leading Chinese health official and respiratory expert has warned. State media reported that Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert from Peking University First Hospital has urged medical institutions to expand intensive care units (ICUs) and boost medical resources to address the impending wave of infections as medical resources in the capital city are facing additional stress due to unprecedented wave of COVID-19 infections after China suddenly shifted from zero tolerance to let the virus have free run. Cases driven by the BF.7 strain in Beijing are mainly symptomatic which often triggers high fever and other extreme symptoms.

According to various estimates, more than 60 percent of Chinese population might get infected in next few months as the current surge has been predicted to continue till April next year.

 

Official count of COVID



deaths of seven this week is at odds with widespread anecdotal reports of fatalities and high traffic at funeral homes. China could see as many as one million COVID deaths through the end of 2023, a report by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) said, predicting a worst-case scenario for the country as it moves away from the “zero COVID” strategy it has clung to for years. But a “triplededemic” of flu, COVID, and RSV could raise the death toll even higher and could put the China’s already-endangered hospital capacity in further peril, it said citing experience of other western countries. Elderly population in China is under vaccinated and is also having underlying conditions.

State media reported that Chinese authorities are rushing to boost the number of intensive care beds and health workers and increase medication supplies.