Shanghai faces a dire challenge with a steep rise in Covid-19 cases spreading throughout the city and much of China, with warnings from Shanghai Deji Hospital that millions may be infected by year-end. The hospital, in a statement on WeChat, predicted that the entire “Greater Shanghai” would experience significant infection rates, expecting over 5 million current cases and an additional 12.5 million by the close of the year. However, the post has since been removed, and these numbers could not be independently verified.

Despite official reports indicating no new Covid deaths for consecutive days, anecdotal evidence shows rising pressure on China’s healthcare system. Some funeral services report increased demand, and deserted streets and closed businesses hint at high infection rates. A supermarket worker in Shanghai, for instance, shared that all employees were sick, causing temporary closures. The situation coincides with China’s recent relaxation of its strict “zero-Covid” policy, catching a fragile healthcare system off-guard.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over underreported data and requested more transparency from China, including details on hospital admissions and ICU needs. Amid surging cases, Germany has sent BioNTech vaccines to China for German expatriates, and Beijing is urged to provide vaccine access for more foreign nationals. As the country adjusts to the policy shift, parallels are being drawn to previous Covid waves in other nations, with many cities now dispensing free fever medicines and distributing anti-fever treatments to pharmacies.