China media plays down COVID severity as WHO seeks detail on variants

China media plays down COVID severity as WHO seeks detail on variants

[1/9] Patients lie on beds in a hallway in the emergency department of Zhongshan Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China January 3, 2023. REUTERS/Staff.

  

Summary  Companies

• State media says severe illness from COVID is rare
• Chinese scientists expected to brief WHO
• China factory activity shrinks in December

BEIJING/HONG KONG/GENEVA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - State media in China played down the severity of a surge of COVID-19 infections ahead of an expected briefing on Tuesday by its scientists to the World Health Organization, which is hoping for a "detailed discussion" on the evolution of the virus.

China's abrupt U-turn on COVID controls on Dec. 7, as well as the accuracy of its case and mortality data, have come under increasing scrutiny at home and abroad.