Europe Brief News – Chinese opera singer, Chu Lanlan, was the last Covid singer, sparking widespread shock and fear.
Her family said they were saddened by her “abrupt departure”. But they did not give details of the cause of her death.
A widespread fear swept the country over the growing number of Chinese public figures whose deaths.
The death of Chu Lanlan and other celebrities is sparking speculation about greater losses than those reported on official accounts.
China scrapped its strict zero-Covid policy in December and has seen a rapid surge of infections and deaths.
There are reports of hospitals and crematoria becoming overwhelmed.
But the country has stopped publishing daily cases data, and has announced only 22 Covid deaths since December, using its own strict criteria.
Now only those who die from respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia are counted.
On Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that China was under-representing the true impact of Covid in the country – in particular deaths.
Cities across China are struggling with surging virus cases, resulting in pharmacy shelves stripped bare and overflowing hospitals and crematoriums, after Beijing suddenly dismantled its zero-COVID regime earlier this month.
Since 2020, China has imposed strict health restrictions as part of its zero Covid policy.
But, the government ended most of those measures two weeks ago after landmark protests against the strict controls.
