China limits how it defines COVID deaths in official count

By HUIZHONG WU and DAKE KANG
Associated Press

ZHUOZHOU, China (AP) — A Chinese health official says the country only counts deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official COVID-19 death toll, a narrow definition that limits the numbers of deaths being reported as the virus surges following the easing of pandemic-related restrictions. Wang Guiqiang, head of infectious disease at Peking University’s No. 1 Hospital, says deaths that occur in patients with pre-existing illnesses are not counted as COVID-19 deaths. China reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday and subtracted one death from its overall toll, lowering it to 5,241, according to a daily tally issued by the National Health Commission, which did not explain the decrease.