Part 4/15:

In the weeks that followed, infection rates skyrocketed. Official figures began reporting around 60,000 deaths by mid-January 2023, though many experts believe actual numbers could be ten times higher, potentially reaching one million. These estimates stem from underreporting, limited testing, and the chaos of unprepared healthcare systems.

Chinese citizens—like 60-year-old Mr. Wong—found themselves overwhelmed with illness. Wong, who owns a small eatery in Xi’an, initially was relieved that restrictions eased. However, shortly after reopening, he contracted COVID, illustrating how naive the public's perception of the virus's severity was. For most, COVID appeared manageable—initially dismissed as akin to the flu—yet many soon discovered that the reality was far more severe.