China Reports First Covid Deaths in More Than a Year

What’s new: China reported two Covid-19 deaths Friday, the first in more than a year, as the omicron variant sweeps across the country.

Both deaths were recorded in the northeastern province of Jilin, a statement from the National Health Commission (NHC) said, without elaborating.

The world’s most populous nation is battling its worst Covid-19 outbreak in two years. It recorded 3,870 local cases Friday, taking the overall tally this month to more than 28,000, according to the health commission.