[Explanation] On December 29, the State Council Information Office held a briefing.
As to whether China is currently underestimating the number of deaths from the new crown, Liang Wannian, head of the expert group of the National Health Commission's New Crown Epidemic Response Leading Group, said in an interview that from a public health perspective, it is difficult to accurately judge the number of deaths during the epidemic and rapid transmission period. The case fatality rate and death rate can only be judged more accurately after the epidemic cycle has passed.
[Same period] Liang Wannian, leader of the expert group of the National Health Commission's New Crown Epidemic Response Leading Group
From the perspective of public health, only after the epidemic cycle has passed can we accurately judge the true case fatality rate and death rate, and judge the harm of an epidemic to the population, especially the harm to life safety and health. Among them, death is the An important indicator, the Chinese expert team and the Chinese government have always attached great importance to this area.
At this stage, the prevention of severe illness and death should be given priority. This is also a manifestation of the key adjustment of prevention and control strategies, and the prevention of death should be given a very high priority.
[Explanation] Talking about whether China will adjust the criteria for judging the death cases of the new crown, Jiao Yahui, director of the Department of Medical Affairs of the National Health and Medical Commission, said that the current global judgment criteria for the death of the new crown are mainly divided into two categories.
[Concurrent] Jiao Yahui, Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, National Health Commission of China
One category is nucleic acid positive after infection with the new coronavirus, and the new coronavirus causes respiratory failure, which directly leads to death, and is judged as a new crown death.
Then there is another category that all deaths within 28 days after being infected with the new crown virus are included in the death of the new crown virus.
Since 2020 in China, we have been adopting the death judgment standard as the first type of death judgment standard.
[Explanation] Jiao Yahui emphasized that no matter what kind of pathogen is causing serious illness, the hospital will be required to go all out for treatment to reduce the severity and death.
[Concurrent] Jiao Yahui, Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, National Health Commission of China
First of all, on the one hand, insist on going all out for treatment to reduce severe illness and death.
On the other hand, once a death case occurs, if he is definitely positive for nucleic acid, then we will still report him as a death case of the new coronavirus.
If he has not been tested for nucleic acid and he is a death case, we have a reporting system for the cause of death in the China CDC.
We'll report through that reporting system.
[Explanation] Jiao Yahui said that China has always adhered to the principles of seeking truth from facts and openness and transparency to disclose information on deaths and severe cases, and will continue to uphold this principle in the future.
[Concurrent] Jiao Yahui, Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, National Health Commission of China
The death cases we have announced include both those who died from the new crown virus and those who died from underlying diseases after being infected with the new crown virus. We have always adhered to the scientific death case judgment standard, and it is also the death case judgment standard that is in line with international standards.
[Explanation] Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, further pointed out that there is a calculation method in the field of public health called "excess death", which can assess possible underestimation.
[Concurrent] Wu Zunyou, Chief Epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
In the field of public health, there is a method to calculate it, called "excess death". The "excess death" method can be used to evaluate the possible underestimation. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has a team doing this work, so in 2020 the earliest After the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the team quickly analyzed the "excess deaths" that may be caused by the new crown epidemic, and published it publicly.
Regarding the "excess deaths" that may be caused by this wave of epidemics, the team is already working on plans and work, and will provide them to you one after another.
Chi Hanyu Ma Shuisha reports from Beijing
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]