China’s public health officials have been avoiding any mention of COVID-19 when discussing pneumonia deaths. Instead, they have been attributing pneumonia fatalities to other diseases or underlying health conditions. The outbreak of pneumonia, which has been reported to be sweeping across different parts of China, has led to a rise in deaths and an increase in business for the local funeral industry.
According to reports from residents in various areas of China, including Henan Province, the pneumonia outbreak started spreading in September, predominantly affecting children, with a surge in mid-October and further deterioration in November. Despite these events, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) denied any connection to COVID-19 and claimed the outbreak was caused by multiple respiratory infections.
However, Assistant Professor Sean Lin and other experts believe that the CCP was concealing the fact that COVID-19 was still active in China. Local residents in Henan Province have shared their concerns and experiences, revealing that many patients, particularly the elderly, succumbed to pneumonia, although the medical system has been instructed to avoid attributing these deaths to COVID-19.
The situation in Henan has led to reports of overcrowded hospitals, a rise in deaths among the elderly, and increased activity in local funeral homes. Family members who attempted to request COVID-19 tests were denied, and several mourners confirmed that the COVID-19 virus was still circulating among the population. The recent reports suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and continues to have a significant impact on the lives of the people in China.