WHO and ECDC published information on the COVID-19 situation in China: the peak of the epidemic appears to be over
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation in China in their latest outbreak reports. According to them, the peak of the coronavirus epidemic in China has now passed. No new variants of concern have been detected so far.
According to the information provided by the Chinese authorities, the number of patients contacting outpatient fever clinics reached its peak in China on 22 December 2022, with almost 2.9 million contacts. Since then, the number of contacts has decreased significantly in both cities and rural areas. On 23 January, there were 63,000 contacts, which is almost 98 percent less than at the peak.
The number of patients admitted to hospitals due to the coronavirus disease was at its highest on 5 January 2023, when more than 1.6 million patients were admitted to treatment. Since then, the number has fallen by 85 percent. Approximately 250,000 patients were admitted to hospitals on 23 January.
Viruses circulating in China the same as previously in Europe
According to the WHO, almost 19,000 coronavirus samples have been sequenced in China over the last four months or so (26 September 2022–23 January 2023), which is still low compared to the country's population and the estimated extent of the epidemic. The most common coronavirus variants are BA.5.2 (70.8%) and BF.7 (23.4%). These are the same variants that have already been circulating in EU countries, including Finland.
According to the ECDC, no new variants of concern have been found in China, and the epidemic situation in China does not have a significant impact on the epidemic situation in the EU.
Estimates based on best available information
China has changed the case definitions for COVID-19 surveillance, which differ from those used elsewhere. This has made it more difficult to assess the epidemic situation from outside the country.
Both the WHO and the ECDC are in regular contact with the Chinese authorities to obtain more detailed information on the epidemic. The information now published is the best available information on the epidemic situation in China.
“Based on the reports by the WHO and the ECDC, the coronavirus epidemic has dampened in China, but it is likely that new waves of the epidemic will still come in the spring. The epidemic continues to place a significant burden on the healthcare of the country, which should be taken into account if you are travelling to China,” says Jari Jalava, Chief Specialist at THL.
You can check the latest travel advisories on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website.
Further information
Update report on the COVID-19 situation (WHO)
Weekly review of the epidemic situation (ECDC)
COVID-19 variants in Finland (THL, in Finnish)
Travel and the coronavirus pandemic (THL)
Travel advisories A-Ö (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Finnish)
Jari Jalava
Chief Specialist
THL
tel. +358 (0)29 524 6629
[email protected]
