Key points:
- Chen Erzhen says his hospital in Shanghai sees 1,600 emergency admissions daily, with 80 per cent COVID-19 patients
- Chinese officials are bracing for rising numbers in rural areas as Lunar New Year approaches
- More than a dozen countries have imposed restrictions on travellers from China
The steep rise in infections came after years of hardline restrictions were abruptly loosened last month, with little warning or preparation, and quickly overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums.
