China says ‘transparent’ about COVID data as WHO doubts death toll

Record ID: 1705333

  • Title: China says ‘transparent’ about COVID data as WHO doubts death toll
  • Date: 5th January 2023
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 5, 2023) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON MAO NING ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MAO NING, SAYING: “We always believe that all countries response measures to COVID should be based on science and facts and be proportionate, there should be no attempts to politicize the issue or adopt discriminatory practice to effect normal people-to-people exchange. We also remind Chinese citizens to who are planning to travel abroad to check their health conditions and entry requirements of their destination in advance.” NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MAO NING, SAYING: "Facts have proved that China has always maintained close communications with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and shared the relevant information and data in a timely manner in accordance with the principles of law, timeliness, openness and transparency. The current pandemic situation in China is manageable. With adjustments to China's pandemic prevention and control policy, we will continue to hold technical and other exchanges with WHO. We also hope that the WHO secretariat will uphold a scientific, objective and just position, and strive to play an active role in the global response to the challenges of the pandemic." EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2023 08:34
  • Keywords: BEIJING CHINA CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 HEALTH MAO NING MOFA WHO ZERO-COVID POLICY
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA001052405012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:China's foreign ministry on Thursday (January 5) said it has always been open about its sharing of COVID-19 data with the World Health Organisation (WHO), after it accused Beijing of under-reporting virus-linked deaths.
    “Facts have proved that China has always maintained close communications with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and shared the relevant information and data in a timely manner in accordance with the principles of law, timeliness, openness and transparency,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told media during a regular briefing in Beijing.
    Mike Ryan, emergencies director at the World Health Organisation (WHO), told a media briefing on Wednesday (January 4) that current numbers being published from China under-represent hospital admissions, intensive care unit patients and deaths.
    WHO said it had received no data from China on new COVID hospitalisations for December last year since Beijing lifted its zero-COVID policy, but added that gaps in data might be due to Chinese authorities simply struggling to tally cases.
    China reported five new deaths related to COVID-19 for Tuesday (January 3), bringing the official death toll to 5,258, very low by global standards.
    (Production: Alessandro Diviggiano, Wang Shubing)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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