In China, a new wave of COVID-19 is sweeping through, with patients reporting intense throat pain described as a “razor blade throat”—a sensation likened to swallowing shattered glass or razor blades.
This resurgence, driven by the highly transmissible but less virulent Omicron XDV variant, is bringing symptoms like fever, headaches, fatigue, burning throat pain, and persistent coughing, according to Zhong Nanshan, a leading Chinese pulmonologist and epidemiologist, in a May 19 interview with local media.
The outbreak, which began in March, is expected to peak in late May and subside by late June, lasting six to eight weeks, Zhong stated. Dr. Li Tongzeng, director of the Infectious Diseases Department at Beijing You’an Hospital, confirmed the timeline, noting the epidemic is still in its “climbing phase.”
Chinese netizens on Weibo have shared vivid accounts of their struggles: one described a colleague’s cough so severe it seemed like choking, with “razor blade throat” as the primary symptom. Others reported feeling “completely drained” or struggling with swollen, painful throats that made speaking difficult. A Beijing resident, infected for nearly 10 days, told The Epoch Times of experiencing fever, sore throat, blood-streaked phlegm, nosebleeds, and extreme fatigue, calling this wave “terrifying.”
Data transparency remains a concern. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) reported only seven COVID-19 deaths in March, a figure Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, called “implausible” given China’s dense population. He compared it to Canada, which reported over 200 monthly deaths despite better sanitation and a sparser population. The CCDC noted a rise in outpatient cases from 7.5% to 16.2% and severe hospitalized cases from 3.3% to 6.3%, but Xiaoxu Sean Lin, an assistant professor at Feitian College, criticized the lack of key metrics like confirmed cases, hospitalization rates, severe case rates, and mortality rates, accusing the regime of concealing critical information.
The surge extends beyond China, with rising cases in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Hong Kong reported a one-year high in COVID indicators, with 31 adult deaths in the past four weeks as of May 8. Singapore saw a 28% case increase from April 27 to May 3, with hospitalizations up 30%. Taiwan’s CDC predicts a June peak.
Zhong noted that while the virus may become less virulent to ensure its survival, it’s premature to assume it will resemble the flu. He emphasized one certainty: “The COVID-19 virus will not disappear.”
