The situation of the new coronavirus infection in the country
(December 2023)
1. Reporting of severe cases and deaths of novel coronavirus infection nationwide
From December 1 to December 31, 2023, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 88 new severe cases and 11 deaths (including 2 deaths from respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 infection and 9 deaths from underlying diseases combined with COVID-19 infection). See Figure 1.
2. Diagnosis and treatment of fever clinics (clinics) nationwide
From December 1 to December 31, 2023, the number of fever clinics (clinics) in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps fluctuated between 230,000 and 360,000. Since the fluctuation of 348,000 on December 5, the volatility has begun to increase after falling to a recent low of 230,000 on December 16, and has decreased slightly after reaching the highest of the month of 360,000 on December 28, and has fallen to 315,000 on December 31. See Figure 2.
3. Monitoring of sentinel hospitals
From December 1 to December 31, 2023, the proportion of influenza-like cases in outpatient (emergency) visits in sentinel hospitals nationwide decreased from 8.6% in week 49 (December 4-December 10) to 8.2% in week 51 (December 18-December 24), and rebounded slightly to 9.1% in week 52 (December 25-December 31). See Figure 3-1.
The COVID-19 positivity rate of influenza-like cases fluctuated at a low level, ranging from weeks 49 to 51 at 1.0% for three consecutive weeks and 0.8% at week 52. See Figure 3-2.
4. Surveillance of local cases of virus mutations
From December 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported a total of 3,779 local cases of novel coronavirus genome valid sequences, all of which are Omicron variants, covering 72 evolutionary branches, and the main epidemic strains are XBB series variants, with the top three being XBB.1.9 and its subclades, XBB.1.16 and its subclades, and XBB.1.22 and its subclades.
According to the sampling date, the proportion of XBB and its subclades remained high, and the proportion of JN.1 showed an upward trend. See Figure 4.
Source: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention website Original title: The national situation of the new coronavirus infection