Packed emergency wards as COVID roils Chinese towns

In a hospital in the town of Baigou about 120 kilometers south of Beijing, COVID patients have been separated from others to prevent cross-infection, staff said. But they added that serious cases are being directed to hospitals in bigger cities, because of limited medical equipment. The Chinese government has reported only seven COVID deaths since restrictions were loosened dramatically on December 7, bringing the country’s total toll to 5,241.