Sharp fall in COVID-19 infections, deaths in China

Pharmacists check prescription information at a fever clinic in Minhang district of Shanghai on Jan 8. （Photo/Xinhua）

China has seen a significant drop in the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths from their peaks, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The number of daily COVID-19 deaths at hospitals across the country fell to 102 on Monday, from a peak of 4,273 on Jan 4, it said on Wednesday in a report on its website.

Following continuous increases since Dec 9, the number of people testing positive in nucleic acid tests peaked at 6.94 million on Dec. 22, it said.

Despite fluctuations, the number maintained a generally declining trend, and dropped to 9,000 on Monday, it added.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of hospitalized patients described as being in "severe" condition across the country peaked on Jan 5, at 128,000. On Monday, the number had fallen, to 2,000.

Monday saw 137,000 people visit fever clinics, down 95.2 percent on the peak of almost 2.9 million on Dec 23, it added.