Five years after the episode Covid-19the fear of news epidemic has been hovering for a few days, according to the hashtags who dominate the trends. Indeed, the posts relayed report a chaotic situation in Chine and argue that Beijing took exceptional measures to slow down the circulation of several respiratory viruses.
THE videosreaching millions of views for some, show hospitals and crematoriums overwhelmed and crowded with masked people. Some of these images which are causing panic on the web are far from recent. According to site TF1 Infoone of the videos would be taken in December 2022, during theCovid-19 epidemic. Also, several contents seem to direct towards “The Epoch Times”, a site known for distributing conspiracy theories et fake news around the pandemic, specifies the French media.
However, according to the British daily The IndependentChina is experiencing a surge in respiratory virus infections, leading to hospital overcrowding, emergency measures and public concerns about the spread of an epidemic. The virus, identified as Human metapneumovirus (HMPV)is believed to be behind an increase in cases in the northern provinces of China this winter, particularly among children. Health authorities have implemented emergency measures to monitor and manage the spread of the virus. Beijing, however, downplayed the importance of this situation, describing it as a winter phenomenon, according to the same source.
TF1 Info’s correspondent in China, Louise Malnoy, confirms the absence ofstate of emergency in the country and evokes “a recurring situation every winter, during seasonal peaks of flu and respiratory viruses.
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