It's a first. China published on Wednesday April 1 the number of people currently positive for the coronavirus but asymptomatic, that is to say without the characteristic symptoms of Covid-19. An evolution intended to dispel fears about possible hidden cases in mainland China.

Chinese authorities have so far only reported infected patients developing clinical symptoms. They are 81 554, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health.

To this total are now added the positive cases detected but asymptomatic: 1,367. A figure which is only a photograph at a time T, and should therefore fluctuate in the coming days.

This figure obviously does not take into account the very large number of people who, precisely because they do not show symptoms, are neither identified nor tested. These healthy carriers could still transmit the virus.

Seven new deaths have also been recorded in China in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 3,312. Some Chinese media, including the Caixin business website, however question these figures and denounce a state lie. Nationally, only 2,004 people are still officially sick with Covid-19.

36 new "imported" cases

The country, cradle of the coronavirus, thus seems to have largely contained the epidemic. Its priority today is to prevent the disease from returning to its territory from abroad.

On Wednesday, 36 new "imported" cases were further reported by the Ministry of Health, bringing the total since the count began to 691.

To cope, China has temporarily closed its borders to most foreigners and drastically reduced its international flights. Anyone entering the country is also subject to a quarantine of 14 days.

After two months of closure due to coronavirus, the province of Hubei (center), epicenter of the pandemic, began last week to reopen its doors, closed since the end of January.

Those present in Wuhan, the provincial capital, will be able to leave the city on April 8.

With AFP

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