Taking notes from the rise in COVID-19 cases in China, a study by Peking University revealed that over 900 million people have been infected with the corona virus as of 11 January, which 64 per cent of the country’s population is got the virus.

China COVID Report By Peking University

According to the report by Peking University, at the top, 91 per cent of the people are reported in the Gansu province. Yunnan has 84 per cent infected people by the virus and Qinghai has 80 per cent.

Due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in China, a top Chinese Epidemiologist predicts that COVID-19 will hot rural areas next and peak ahead of the lunar New Year. The epidemiologist also warned that the peak of China’s COVID wave is expected to last two to three months.

The infection is expected to surge in the rural areas as hundreds of millions travel to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays, which will commence from January 21. It will be the world’s largest annual migration of people.

According to China’s Transport Ministry, two billion passengers are expected to travel in next 40 days. The ministry said that it expects more than 2 billion passengers to take trips over the next 40 days, an increase of 99.5% year-on-year and reaching 70.3% of 2019 trip numbers.

Also Read: Ahead Of Lunar New Year, 2 Billion Travellers Likely To Visit China: Transport Ministry

China Lifts COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

Last week, the country’s civil aviation regulator has vowed to restore international passenger traffic. China has lifted the quarantine requirements for inbound travelers even as the country continues to grapple with a COVID-19 surge that has sparked global concern.  It’s the most significant move yet as it veers away from its stringent Zero-COVID policy.

Beijing is planning to drop a requirement for students at city schools to have a negative Covid-19 test to enter campus. The classes will resume on February 13. While schools will be allowed to move classes online in the event of new outbreaks, they must return to in-person instruction as soon as possible, the city education bureau said.

Hospitals in China are under immense pressure after the government abruptly abandoned its ‘Zero-COVID’ policy last month, leading to a massive spike in COVID infections. The surging wave of infections across the country has overwhelmed hospitals, emptied pharmacies of medicines and caused international alarm.