Photo/Illutration A man pushes an elderly woman past patients receiving intravenous drips in the emergency ward of a hospital in Beijing on Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo)

GUANGZHOU, China--Two Japanese men have died in China after contracting the novel coronavirus amid surging cases following the abrupt reversal of the nation’s zero-COVID policy in December. 

According to the consuls-general of Japan in Chongqing and Guangzhou on Jan. 3, both men were in their 70s.

That brings the number of Japanese who were confirmed to have died after contracting the virus in China to three since the country started rolling back its stringent zero-COVID stance on Dec. 7.

The novel coronavirus has been spreading rapidly in China since the abrupt policy change. The two men were confirmed to have died on Jan. 2.

Of the two, the man who lived in the area that falls within the jurisdiction of the Consulate-General of Japan in Guangzhou had contracted the novel coronavirus before his death.

However, his death certificate doesn’t mention COVID-19, according to the consulate-general. He had an underlying health condition.

The man who resided in the area falling within the jurisdiction of the Consulate-General of Japan in Chongqing contracted the novel coronavirus in December last year prior to his death.

In accordance with his family’s wishes, it wasn’t disclosed if he had any underlying conditions.

The Chinese government has set conditions as to when officials can attribute the direct causes of death to COVID-19.

It is believed that the government’s announcement on the number of deaths from COVID-19 doesn’t include those who had underlying conditions and died after being infected with the coronavirus.

In reality, it is believed that many patients, particularly older ones, with underlying conditions have died after contracting the virus.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Jan. 2 that three people died of COVID-19 across the country that day.

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