WHO ‘very concerned’ at Covid surge in China as cases soar – but Beijing claims no new deaths

Beijing reports no new deaths despite drug shortages and queues at crematoriums

An elderly resident is vaccinated against Covid in Zhongmin village near Shanghai on Wednesday (Reuters)

A huge Covid surge in China is causing worldwide alarm – just as the country changes the way it records the virus, claiming zero deaths on Wednesday despite drug shortages and queues at crematoriums.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is “very concerned over the evolving situation ... with increasing reports of severe disease”, said its director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Cases have soared across the country after the ruling communist regime abandoned its zero-Covid policy in the wake of huge protests, loosening restrictions and ending the requirement for daily PCR tests.