China will no longer publish daily figures for Covid-19 cases and deaths, ending a practice that began in early 2020.
Cities across China have struggled with surging infections, and a resulting shortage of pharmaceuticals and overflowing hospital wards, after Beijing rapidly dismantled its zero-Covid-19 strategy.
China has announced only six Covid-19 deaths since its pandemic restrictions were lifted.
But in a rare acknowledgement this week, a senior health official in the eastern city of Qingdao was quoted by the media as saying half a million people are being infected daily.
