Mainland China is grappling with a worsening COVID-19 outbreak as alarming reports of surging infections and sudden deaths dominate social media. On May 17, the Third Eye Channel on the Gong Gene World platform reported a massive outbreak, with the Chinese CDC confirming COVID-19’s dominance in emergency room visits since April. However, with many hospitals refusing to test for the virus, the true toll remains hidden.  

A doctor from Shintai City People's Hospital in Harbin shared on Douyin (Chinese version of Tiktok) that COVID-19 cases are overwhelming fever clinics. Another Douyin user warned that post-holiday infections are rampant, stating, “One person gets sick, the whole family suffers.” Netizens report widespread symptoms, including fever, cough, and sore throat, insisting that the virus never disappeared despite the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) labelling it as the flu.  

Bloggers are sounding the alarm over sudden deaths, with people collapsing while walking, playing cards, or even sleeping. The Third Eye Channel highlighted a disturbing trend: mass deaths are overwhelming communities. In one county with fewer than 300,000 residents, a funeral parlor’s 15 halls were fully occupied in a single day.  

A blogger traveling 155 kilometers to Changsha counted 17 funerals along the way, declaring that China’s death rate had reached a peak in April. Citizens told overseas media of a new wave infecting entire families, with hospitals overcrowded and cardiovascular deaths surging across all age groups.  

In Shijiazhuang, Hebei, coffin prices have tripled from 4,000 yuan to 12,000 yuan (approximately $555 to $1,666) due to shortages driven by high mortality. Workers at Jujun coffin factories report relentless demand, with new factories springing up to handle the surge in deaths, including among many young and middle-aged individuals.  

Since late 2022, the CCP has halted broad COVID-19 testing, and authorities now classify cases as flu or pneumonia. The Third Eye Channel alleges that the CCP has deliberately concealed the severity of the outbreak and the death toll, leading many citizens to die unaware of the true cause.  

Reports suggest that the CCP is actively suppressing information regarding the outbreak. Leaked cremation data from Zhejiang province hinted at a significantly higher death toll than officially reported. The number of cremations in the first quarter of 2023 surged by 72% compared to previous years, translating to approximately 1.5 million excess deaths in just three months.  

Despite mounting evidence, the Chinese government continues to downplay the crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns that China’s official COVID-19 death toll is vastly underestimated.  

The crisis is particularly severe in rural areas, where medical resources are scarce. Reports from Shanxi province indicate that coffin makers have been overwhelmed by demand, with some villages running out of coffins entirely. Funeral homes and crematoriums are struggling to keep up, forcing families to wait days for cremation services.  

In Xinzhou, northern Shanxi, skilled craftsmen carving coffins report that they have not had time to stop. A villager told reporters that at times, coffins have completely sold out. Funeral industry workers describe an explosion in demand for burial decorations, with orders doubling or tripling compared to previous years.  

The ongoing crisis is exacerbating China’s economic struggles. With widespread illness and deaths, businesses are facing labour shortages, and consumer spending has plummeted. The funeral industry, however, is booming, with new crematoriums and coffin factories opening to meet demand.  

Public frustration is growing as citizens demand transparency. Many believe that the CCP’s decision to abruptly end its zero-COVID policy without adequate preparation has led to the current catastrophe. The government’s reluctance to acknowledge the true scale of the crisis has fuelled distrust, with citizens turning to social media to share firsthand accounts of the devastation.  

China’s worsening COVID-19 crisis underscores the dangers of misinformation and inadequate public health measures. The surge in sudden deaths, overwhelmed hospitals, and coffin shortages paint a grim picture of a nation struggling to contain the outbreak. As the government continues to suppress data, the true toll of the pandemic remains uncertain.  

The coming months will be critical in determining whether China can regain control of the situation or if the crisis will spiral further out of control. For now, the voices of citizens sharing their experiences online serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the pandemic.