The number of cover-up allegations is increasing amid reports of hospitals being overwhelmed with patients suffering from a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in some areas of China. More sudden deaths have been reported in north and east China as the outbreak sweeps through the country. Some residents claim that the current outbreak may actually be COVID-19. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of withholding information, particularly the death toll, related to the pandemic. Government authorities had previously claimed at the end of 2023 that respiratory diseases were on the decline, but recent media reports and social media posts indicate that many hospitals across the country are still overcrowded. There is a significantly larger number of patients exhibiting severe symptoms such as “white lungs,” typical of lung damage and pulmonary fibrosis seen in severe COVID-19 cases. There has also been an increase in the number of sudden deaths, including among some celebrities, during the pneumonia outbreak.
Residents in various areas have reported an increase in infections, with patients filling hospitals. Residents in cities like Xingtai City in Hebei Province, Baoding City, and Jiangsu Province have reported rising numbers of infections. Residents are also pointing out that those who have fallen ill with this pneumonia-like illness do not always have underlying health conditions. People have reported instances of sudden deaths among individuals who appeared healthy.
The outbreak of pneumonia started to be noticed spreading in China in September and has escalated since then, affecting people of all age groups. Chinese authorities have attributed the outbreak to cross-infections of influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and other respiratory infections. However, there are doubts among the public that this outbreak is unrelated to COVID-19, with many people pointing out that the symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19.
Some residents maintain that the outbreak may be related to COVID-19. They believe the pandemic has never really stopped. People have reported that their family members are having difficulty getting medical care, even for children who are showing symptoms such as “white lungs.” An increasing number of adults who have no known underlying health conditions are dying suddenly.
Residents and medical workers from the affected areas are skeptical of government statements, expressing concern that the outbreak may in fact be a resurgence of COVID-19. There are doubts regarding the official diagnosis of the outbreak by government authorities, with skepticism and alarming reports rising from various parts of China.