Just a question I have no answers for yet.
China of course got Covid-19 under control well quick, with less than 5000 fatalities (officially at least—let’s say this is in the ballpark of semi-correct).
There was talk a year ago as the shit hit the fan about a massive (temporary) drop in air pollution in China due to its strict lockdowns. And since air pollution in China is said to be linked to a million or more deaths a year, you’d think that the March-April grind-to-a-halt there should show up in official figures. That is, a negative excess mortality in 2020 compared to other years.
Not obvious online to find China’s death figures for 2020 though. Maybe it’s too soon?
Anyone have a good source? Please message me at adventuresofaclimatecriminal@gmail.com
Have a good day!
County-level premature deaths attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposures in China in 2000 and 2010. The small box shows the islands in the South China Sea. Credit: Yang Liu.