China says Covid outbreak easing on eve of travel rush

Passengers wait for their trains at the Hangzhou East railway station during peak travel in China's eastern Zhejiang province on Jan 20, 2023. - AFP

BEIJING (Reuters): China said the worst was over in its battle against Covid-19 ahead of what is expected to be the busiest day of travel in years on Friday, a mass movement of people that has fed fears of a further surge in infections.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who oversees China's virus response, said that the outbreak was at a "relatively low" level, state media reported late on Thursday, after health officials said the number of Covid patients in clinics, emergency rooms and with critical conditions had peaked.