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COVID surge in China as 37 million get infected in one day

Chinese authorities on Wednesday confirmed that 248 million people were likely infected by the virus in the first 20 days of December.

• December 23, 2022
Someone infected with COVID in China
Someone infected with COVID in China used to illustrate story[ Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times]

Nearly 37 million people in China got infected with the coronavirus in one day, Chinese health authorities were reported to have estimated on Wednesday.

According to Bloomberg, this is the world’s largest record since the outbreak of the virus in 2019.

The media outlet said the China National Health Commission held an internal meeting on Wednesday that confirmed that 248 million people, or nearly 18 per cent of China’s population, were likely infected by the virus in the first 20 days of December.

On December 19, China reported the first official fatalities since the government shifted away from its zero-COVID policy and eased pandemic restrictions. 

However, the Chinese health officials said that the peak of the virus is likely to emerge within a week, which will last for a month or two months.

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