Analysis: How China Counts — and Doesn't Count — Covid Deaths

China has clarified new rules on how it classifies and reports Covid-related deaths for medical institutions, according to official documents that Caixin obtained. The rules could explain why some of the recent deaths of Covid-infected patients were not included in the official tally.

The National Health Commission did not report any Covid-related death in the two weeks between Dec. 4 and Saturday. The health authority had reported nine deaths, some of whom had underlying conditions, after the State Council released 20 rules amending the Covid prevention strategy on Nov. 11, which have led to widespread easing of restrictions in many parts of China.