Long lines outside funeral homes as COVID-19 outbreak in China intensifies

Abigail Adcox

December 30, 11:44 AM December 30, 11:44 AM

Long lines are reportedly forming outside funeral homes in China as the country struggles to tame a widespread COVID-19 outbreak, with estimates suggesting thousands are dying each day.

Around 11,000 people in China are likely dying from COVID-19 daily, and the number of deaths is not expected to peak until later in January, according to an estimate Friday from the U.K.-based health data firm Airfinity.

INTERNATIONAL CONCERN GROWS DUE TO LACK OF DATA ON CHINA'S COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Officially, the Chinese government has only reported 12 deaths from COVID-19 since Dec. 1, though experts have largely said the number is much higher, pointing to the intensity of the spread of the outbreak. China also has said that officials would only count people who die from respiratory failure directly linked to an infection, leaving out a large chunk of people who may have died from an underlying illness spurred by a COVID-19 infection.

Estimates of death and infection rates in China have varied as the international community remains largely in the dark about the scope of the outbreak. The leader of the World Health Organization, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said last week more information was needed about disease severity and hospital admissions in the country to make a "comprehensive risk assessment of the situation on the ground."

Reports in recent weeks from China have painted a grim picture, detailing overflowing hospitals and long queues outside crematoriums in areas outside Beijing.

The country largely abandoned its "zero COVID" policies this month, which imposed mass testing campaigns and strict lockdowns on millions over the past two years, leaving its healthcare system overwhelmed as cases surged.

The United States, Italy, Japan, India, and Taiwan announced travel measures in recent days, citing concerns about the lack of adequate and transparent COVID-19 data being reported by the Chinese government.