China urges WHO to take ‘right stance’ on Covid-19 after data criticism

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BEIJING — China on Thursday called on the World Health Organization to take a fair stance on Covid-19, after the body criticized Beijing’s very narrow definition of virus deaths.

WHO Emergency Director Michael Ryan told reporters on Wednesday that official statistics did not show the true impact of the outbreak in China.

The number of cases rose in the country following Beijing’s decision last month to suddenly lift years of strict virus controls.

Beijing retaliated on Thursday, insisting that China has maintained close cooperation with the WHO and has always shared relevant information and data with the international community with an open and transparent attitude.

We hope the WHO secretariat will maintain a scientific, objective and fair stance, and make efforts to play a positive role in the global response to the pandemic challenge, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. during a press briefing.

According to an incomplete count, there have been more than 60 technical exchanges between the two sides since Covid-19 was first reported, on topics including Covid-19 prevention and control, treatment, R&D on vaccines and tracing the origin of the virus, she added.

China has recorded just 23 Covid-19 deaths since December and has significantly reduced the criteria for classifying deaths.

That means Beijing’s statistics on the unprecedented surge are now widely seen as not reflecting reality.

More than a dozen countries have imposed mandatory Covid-19 testing on visitors from China, a move Beijing has decried as unacceptable. AFP

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