China abandons COVID case reporting as infections explode

 

 Covid cases explode in Beijing leaving city streets empty and daily life disrupted

 China on Wednesday gave up reporting asymptomatic COVID-19 cases as hospitals in Beijing battled to keep up with a surge of infections, while a top economic planning meeting was reportedly delayed over health fears.

Last week, the government announced a sharp pivot away from a zero-COVID policy that relied on years of mass lockdowns and testing to tamp down outbreaks.