Sat Jan 11 10:25:28 UTC 2025: ## China Marks Fifth Anniversary of First Covid-19 Death in Silence
**Beijing, January 11, 2025** – The fifth anniversary of the first officially reported Covid-19 death in Wuhan, China, passed without public acknowledgment from the government. On January 11, 2020, a 61-year-old man succumbed to the novel virus, sparking a global pandemic that claimed over seven million lives. However, official media in China made no mention of the anniversary, reflecting the government’s continued suppression of discussion surrounding the pandemic.
While the Communist Party maintained tight control over information during its zero-Covid policy and its subsequent abandonment, social media platforms like Douyin and Weibo showed limited commemoration. A few posts acknowledged the date but reiterated the official narrative. Even references to Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower doctor who was reprimanded for sharing early warnings about the virus, avoided direct mention of the anniversary.
Unlike many other countries, China has not erected large-scale memorials for Covid-19 victims. Details about the first victim remain scarce, aside from his connection to a Wuhan seafood market believed to be linked to the initial outbreak. The lack of official remembrance stands in contrast to the World Health Organization’s reported figures of nearly 100 million cases and 122,000 deaths in China, a number widely believed to be an undercount. Beijing declared victory over Covid-19 in 2023, characterizing its response as a “miracle.” The silence surrounding the anniversary highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the pandemic’s origins and the government’s handling of the crisis.
First Piper 