The sudden deaths of young people and celebrities in China’s pneumonia outbreak, believed by the public to be COVID-19, have sparked widespread concern. Residents in Beijing and northeast China have reported a concerning increase in pneumonia-related deaths amid severe cold weather as the latest wave of respiratory illness continues to affect the country.
The public perceives this current wave of pneumonia, suspected to be COVID-19, as more severe than the outbreak in December last year. Even though the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has attributed the outbreak to cross-infections of various pathogens, such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, the public remains unconvinced. As the outbreak has progressed, there have been growing reports of sudden deaths among young and middle-aged people in mainland China, increasing suspicions that the deaths are related to COVID-19.
Notably, Luo Qi, a well-known finance journalist in mainland China, suddenly passed away from severe pneumonia, further sparking concerns among the public. In Beijing, residents have witnessed a surge in deaths, with funeral homes facing a substantial increase in deceased individuals. Many have expressed a lack of confidence in the accuracy of official reports, citing personal experiences with the illness. Witnesses have reported a significant rise in sudden deaths, especially among young people, and deaths in severe cold conditions have raised further alarm.
Amid severe cold weather and record low temperatures in China’s northeast, many individuals have reported falling ill and observed an increase in daily deaths among their communities. The severity of this new wave of the epidemic surpasses previous outbreaks, with an increase in symptoms resembling those of COVID-19. Reports of sudden deaths, particularly among elderly individuals, have added to the gravity of the situation. The public remains apprehensive about the CCP’s downplaying of the outbreak and the accuracy of official information. The unusual surge in pneumonia-related deaths warrants thorough investigation and transparency.