BEIJING: China recorded 7 COVID-related deaths at its hospitals between Feb. 17-23, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on Saturday. The death toll had dropped sharply from a daily peak of 4,273 on Jan. 4 to zero on Thursday, the statement added.

It also said that all cases since December were caused by Omicron variants, with 60% from the BA.5.2.48 strain and almost 29% from the BF.7.14. It has also identified 22 local variant strains "of key concern" including one case of XBB.1 and five cases of XBB.1.5.