China is reporting mysteriously low COVID numbers as it opens up. What's really going on?

MSN, 23 Dechttps://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/china-is-reporting-mysteriously-low-covid-numbers-as-it-opens-up-what-s-really-going-on/ar-AA15zBiZ

After China abruptly dropped its COVID-zero measures earlier this month, a surge in infections across the country was expected. But many observers are casting a questioning eye over the reported low case numbers.

Edmund Lee, assistant director at the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet at NTU Singapore, said moving forward, one of the challenges would be managing the public's trust in the Chinese government. He said that included managing expectations when people see the COVID numbers increase. "It will be a challenge for the Chinese government to develop trust in the citizens who are still sceptical that it has not really pivoted away from its original stance."