Amid widespread movement of people on Friday, January 20, which has fueled worries of a fresh increase in infections, China maintained the worst was past in its campaign against COVID-19.

State media reported late on Thursday, January 18 that Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who is in charge of China's virus response, said that the outbreak was at a "relatively low" level, contradicting earlier claims from health officials that the number of COVID patients in clinics, emergency rooms, and in critical conditions had peaked.