Amidst the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, Chinese expert in epidemic prevention Zhong Nanshan recently mentioned the late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (stage name “Big S”) when discussing the current situation of the epidemic in China, sparking attention.
On May 24, during the opening ceremony of the Guangzhou Science and Technology Week, Chinese expert in epidemic prevention and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhong Nanshan, revealed the latest situation of the COVID-19 and influenza in China through a video link.
Zhong mentioned that the current COVID-19 epidemic is still at its peak. According to the monitoring data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from March 31 to May 4, the positivity rate for COVID-19 among outpatient influenza cases nationwide increased from 7.5% to 16.2%, and the positivity rate among hospitalized cases also rose from 3.3% to 6.3%. However, Zhong did not provide specific numbers of infections and deaths.
The Chinese authorities have long been criticized for concealing epidemic data, especially death toll figures.
During his speech, Zhong Nanshan also unusually mentioned the Taiwanese actress Big S, who passed away in February due to influenza, expressing regret. Zhong Nanshan emphasized that Big S’s passing reminds us that life is fragile, especially for the elderly, who need to ensure timely treatment within 48 hours.
On February 2 of this year, Big S passed away suddenly in Japan at the age of 48 due to complications from influenza and pneumonia.
In recent times, the COVID-19 epidemic in China has intensified again. On May 19, Zhong Nanshan stated in an interview with the “Guangzhou Daily” that the epidemic is still in the ascending phase.
A viral video circulating online shows crowded hospitals in mainland China, with some people confirming to media outlets that many individuals have been infected with COVID-19 and there have been significant deaths, despite official suppression of this information.
A resident from Shandong, Zhang Yue (pseudonym), told a media outlet that a wave of COVID-19 cases hit around the end of March, almost taking his life. “The hospital didn’t disclose that it was COVID-19, they kept it under wraps.”
A young parent from Zibo, Shandong mentioned that during the Labor Day holiday, their whole family tested positive after traveling to other places.
Xu Ling (pseudonym) from Beijing’s Chaoyang District said, “I tested positive and was confirmed by the hospital, they also reported it. I suspect I got infected during an emergency room visit. I am almost recovered now, but it took quite a while, I took cephalosporin, a COVID-19 specialist drug.”
Li Gang (pseudonym) from Xuzhou said that their child, who is almost a year old, also got infected with COVID-19. “They were infected by their grandmother, who got it from a neighbor who had already tested positive.”
Xiao Qiang from Shaanxi told a reporter, “Many people have died here, a few years ago the town had white lung disease, and dozens of people died. Just a few days ago, five or six people died in our town.”
A resident of Zigong City in Sichuan, Mr. Zhong, revealed to New Tang Dynasty Television that this wave of epidemic has been ongoing in the area for half a month. Several of his classmates in their seventies, who were normally in good health, suddenly passed away, but these incidents have been suppressed by the authorities.