According to the WHO graph, they peaked at 28,859 on 4 December, the highest reported figure in China since COVID-19 first emerged three years ago, but figures have been absent in the last two reports.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris directed questions about data reporting to be directed directly to the country concerned. China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva did not respond to questions from Reuters.
China has been regularly accused of downplaying its Covid outbreak and some experts say its narrow criteria for identifying deaths will underestimate the true toll. Some estimates predict a higher number of deaths and China is rushing to bolster its health system.
Lawrence Gostin, a law professor at Georgetown University who closely follows the WHO, called the missing data “highly suspect.”
