China Covid: wave of celebrity deaths sparks concern over actual death toll

Users of Chinese social media have questioned the country’s official data after a surge in the number of public figures dying

A spate of deaths among celebrities and public figures across China has sparked concerns that the actual death toll from Covid-19 may be far higher than authorities are reporting.

Many on Chinese social media have been mourning the death of actor Gong Jintang, who died aged 83 on New Year’s Day. He was known for his portrayal of Father Kang in the sitcom Kang’s Family, which first aired in 2000.