A prominent government scientist on the mainland says the possibility of a big Covid rebound over the next two or three months is remote because 80 percent of people have already been infected.

Posting on the Weibo social media platform, Wu Zunyou - chief epidemiologist at the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - said a second wave in the near term was unlikely, even though the number of people travelling over the Lunar New Year holiday might boost infections in some areas.

On Thursday, the National Health Commission said the mainland had passed the peak of Covid patients in fever clinics, and emergency rooms which could treat people in a critical condition.

According to government data, nearly 60,000 people with Covid had died in hospital as of January 12, roughly a month after the mainland lifted its Zero-Covid Policy. (Reuters)