CHINESE officials have been ordered to downplay the mystery pneumonia outbreak raging across the country, an insider has claimed.
Beijing has also ordered medics not to reveal the cause of the illness and urged officials to avoid using the term Covid-19, according to the source.
The new wave of pneumonia with "unusual symptoms" has swept through China and forced the country to bring back face masks and social distancing.
In a chilling echo of the pandemic, hospitals have been overwhelmed with sick children, particularly in the north of the country.
While fears of a possible new pandemic are growing, an insider from China's top leadership has claimed the country's top officials have been given a "secret directive," purportedly straight from Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Speaking to The Epoch Times, the insider said the order instructed officials to downplay the current outbreak and avoid using the term Covid-19.
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Authorities have been ordered to refer to the outbreak as either mycoplasma pneumonia infection or influenza.
She said: "Major foreign media outlets stationed in Beijing also received the order which makes it clear that no interviews are allowed to report on the so-called 'mycoplasma pneumonia infection' or 'influenza.'
"Domestic media are also prohibited from making any comprehensive reports on this outbreak that is just like pretending this never happened."
The insider also reported that a number of hospitals have set up makeshift clinics to cope with the rising number of patients.
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She continued: "The affiliated hospital of Hebei University's (makeshift clinic) is already put into use, primarily for children receiving IV drip treatments."
Most cases have been reported in Beijing, Tianjin and Liaoning Province while concerning footage showed hazmat workers disinfecting streets and buildings.
Despite the surging number of cases, especially in children, China insists that the outbreak is caused by the flu and the usual winter bugs rather than a new virus.
Beijing has told the World Health Organisation that the increase in cases of people with flu-like symptoms is down to "multiple known pathogens" returning stronger than ever despite the exact illness still being a mystery to doctors.
The alarming spread of the disease comes as the nation enters its first full winter season since lifting strict Covid restrictions last December.
While an illness caused by known pathogens like mycoplasma pneumonia has been circulating since spring, children are now showing ground glass opacity, also known as white lung syndrome, in lung scans – an indicator of severe respiratory illness.
Following a spike in cases in the country, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it's "in touch with local health authorities and its country office in China".
CDC spokesperson Jasmine Reed, said: "Initial reports indicate that there have been simultaneous increases in a number of known respiratory illnesses, resulting in a spike in hospitalizations.
"We continue to monitor the situation, collaborating with global health partners."
As hospitals are overflowing with patients suffering from "undiagnosed pneumonia", The Epoch Times report that nine renowned scholars have died in the course of a week.
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While the cause of their deaths is unknown, the outlet notes that they all died in hospital as the country is battling the new wave of disease.
It adds that China has ditched the customary practice of mentioning the cause of death in obituaries, purportedly to conceal the real death toll.
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