Report from Beijing: numbers worse than official count, social media widely censored
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June 28 09:22:13, 2025
As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold in China, I've been glued to my phone for updates every single day. Many important posts and video clips get deleted within hours of being shared online, forcing people to take screenshots just to share them before they disappear, a way to bypass the growing censorship.
Both Chinese social media and mainstream news reports suggest that the real number of confirmed cases is significantly higher than what's officially reported—especially in Wuhan and Hubei, the hardest-hit regions. According to a firsthand report from a Caijing correspondent in Wuhan, a hospital designated to treat the virus saw around 120 patients with fever on February 1st and 2nd, with about 80 showing signs of lung infection. However, only five of those 80 were admitted for treatment.
In another hospital, 600 patients were in critical condition, but none had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus due to a severe shortage of test kits. The doctor interviewed was puzzled by the lack of supplies, unsure of the reason behind the shortage.
Based on these numbers, it appears that less than 6% of infected individuals are included in the official statistics. Additionally, according to data from Japanese and South Korean media, approximately 2% of evacuees from Hubei tested positive. If we go by this estimate, the actual number of infections in Wuhan could be as high as 70,000, and in the entire Hubei province, over 200,000.
**Cries for help on social media**
The discrepancy between the official numbers and the reality on the ground has been echoed through countless social media posts. Many residents in Wuhan and Hubei have shared desperate pleas for help, describing how their family members were shuttled between hospitals, suffering from high fevers and lung infections, yet remained undiagnosed as suspected cases for days.
One video I saw showed a man who had been rejected by a hospital, and it’s said he jumped from an overpass in despair, fearing he might infect more family members if he returned home. There were also reports of people collapsing in the streets and bodies being taken out of residential buildings.
On Weibo, under a specific hashtag, there are currently over 1,000 posts from infected individuals begging for assistance, many of which are constantly being removed. Another popular Weibo account, run by an opinion leader, has hundreds of similar cries for help from Hubei.
**Critical medical supplies are scarce**
Medical resources in Wuhan are already stretched thin, but in other parts of Hubei—like Huanggang, Xiangyang, and smaller, less-known counties—the situation is even worse. Despite a flood of relief supplies arriving in the region, hospitals and doctors continue to post about shortages on social media.
It has come to light through social media that the Wuhan Red Cross has been accused of hoarding and misusing donations, as it was the only official channel for receiving aid. This scandal sparked widespread public outrage and led to increased scrutiny from both public and private media, pushing the Red Cross to act faster.
One of the two newly built hospitals meant to treat patients became operational on February 2nd, with 700 to 1,000 beds available. But demand still far exceeds supply.
The government recently announced stricter quarantine measures, requiring all close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases to be moved into designated facilities to prevent further spread. Some Weibo posts suggest that these facilities lack adequate medical supplies and treatment, so we’ll keep an eye on developments.
In other major cities like Beijing, the situation is improving slightly. The start of the workweek was postponed again to February 9th, and employees are working from home until then. Major tech companies have extended the remote work period to the end of February. However, migrant workers have started returning to the city in batches since late January. So far, these measures seem to be working, with a slight drop in confirmed cases in Beijing over the past two days.