Top German doctor says China’s figures on coronavirus are 'nonsense'

2 April 2020, 16:09

The coronavirus pandemic began in Wuhan, China
The coronavirus pandemic began in Wuhan, China. Picture: PA

By Tobi Akingbade

The President of the German Medical Association has described China’s figures on coronavirus infections as "nonsense".

German doctor Frank Ulrich Montgomery said the numbers are not credible in many other countries either.

He said the recent low Chinese numbers were “nonsense” and suggested Beijing was intentionally providing false figures.

Dr Montgomery said other countries are also working with uncertain figures because better data often is not available.

He cited the lack of proper testing as one reason why many developing countries are reporting low infection rates.

READ MORE: the latest coronavirus updates LIVE

German doctor Frank Ulrich Montgomery said China's numbers were 'nonsense'
German doctor Frank Ulrich Montgomery said China's numbers were 'nonsense'. Picture: PA

The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 940,000 people worldwide and over 47,000 deaths have been recorded.

The number of UK deaths from the virus jumped by 569 today.

The patients were aged between 22 and 100 years old, with 44 people aged between 25 and 100 years old having no known underlying health condition.

The jump in coronavirus-related hospital deaths in the UK from 2,352 to 2,921 is an increase of 569 – the highest day-on-day rise since the outbreak began and up very slightly on yesterday’s rise of 563.

It took 19 days for the number of deaths in the UK to pass 300. It has taken further 10 days to reach just under 3,000.

For the first time, the number of new people tested per day in the UK for coronavirus has passed 10,000.

A further 10,215 new people were reported as being tested in the 24 hours to 9am April 2.

The total number of people in the UK tested since the outbreak began is now 163,194.

This is the equivalent of 245 people in every 100,000.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK stands at 33,718, as of 9am on April 2.

A week ago, on March 26, the total was 11,658.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Palestinian medics carry a child hurt in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip to the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah refugee camp

Six children among nine Palestinians killed by Israeli air strike in Rafah

Bystanders react after witnessing the man lighting himself on fire

Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say

Russian rockets are launched against Ukraine from Russia’s Belgorod region

Ukrainian drones targeting Russian power stations shot down, says Moscow

APTOPIX Indonesia Volcano

More than 2,100 people evacuated as Indonesian volcano spews clouds of ash

Iranian officials say the attacks, in the central province of Isfahan, were caused by small exploding drones

Israeli airstrike on Iran downplayed as tensions ease between Tel Aviv and Tehran

Azzarello was pictured outside the courthouse a day earlier with a conspiracy sign

'Conspiracy theorist' who set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial has died, police confirm

Venezuela Ecuador Mexico

Venezuela’s main opposition bloc agrees on candidate to challenge Maduro

Azzarello was pictured outside the courthouse a day earlier with a conspiracy sign

'Researcher', 37, set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in shocking 'political protest'

Donald Trump in court

Full jury of 12 and six alternatives selected in Donald Trump hush money trial

Trump Hush Money

Police to review security at Trump courthouse after man sets himself on fire

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case to go ahead after judge rejects latest bid to delay

Trump Hush Money

Man in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside Trump courthouse

Paramedics attended to a person who lit themselves on fire near Manhattan Criminal Court

Horror as man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York

Iran Mideast Tensions

Israel and Iran play down apparent Israeli air strike near nuclear site

France Iran

Police in Paris detain man wearing fake explosives vest at Iranian consulate

Pakistan Suicide Attack

Japanese workers narrowly escape suicide bombing in Pakistan