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China has revealed approximately 60,000 people have died in hospital with COVID-19 since Beijing dismantled its zero-COVID policy in early December.
China previously held one of the lowest COVID fatality rates in the word, recording just over 5,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
The increase was documented from December 8 through January 12, however, figures remain inconsistent with authorities also only reporting five or fewer deaths a day over the past month.
The World Health Organisation has repeatedly criticised China for under-reporting deaths from COVID.
