China claims ‘decisive victory’ over Covid amid doubt over figures

More than 200m people treated for virus and death rate now lowest in the world', says government

The Chinese government has declared a decisive victory" in the battle against Covid-19, claiming it had created a miracle in the history of human civilisation" in successfully steering China through the global pandemic.

The comments were made at a meeting presided over by President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The government said more than 200 million people had been treated for Covid and that China's death rate from coronavirus was the lowest level in the world".