China warned to expect 65 million weekly coronavirus infections

Epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan last week told a conference in the city of Guangzhou two new vaccinations for the XBB omicron sub variants were approved by health authorities. Three to four other new vaccines are also expected to soon receive the green light.

Zhong also forecast that weekly coronavirus infections could spike up to 65 million people by late June – a rise from what he estimated was 40 million in late May.

China has stopped releasing regular official nationwide estimates of case numbers.

The fresh outbreak could be the biggest wave of illnesses ever recorded since the “Zero Covid” policy was scrapped late last year.

The move was followed by 85 per cent of the population becoming sick at the time.

But Chinese officials insist that the current wave will be less severe.

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The government is focusing ts vaccination campaign on ensuring the people most at risk of death or serious illness from coronavirus – such as the elderly – become immunised.

Coronavirus became the dominant infectious disease in China during late April, eclipsing flu, the  Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

But authorities insist hospitals and clinic will not be overwhelmed during the new wave, like they were last year.

The government is also determined not to disturb the revival of China’s economy by reintroducing major public health restrictions.