China sees first Covid deaths in more than a year

China reported two Covid-19 deaths yesterday, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an Omicron outbreak that has triggered the country's highest case count since the pandemic's onset. The National Health Commission said both deaths occurred in Jilin, the northeastern province which has been hardest hit by a nationwide rise in cases that has prompted lockdowns or tight restrictions in several cities. The deaths were the first reported in mainland China since January 2021, and bring the country's death toll from the pandemic to 4,638. China reported 4,051 new infections yesterday, down from 4,365 the day before, with more than half of the new cases in Jilin. Officials in Jilin said both victims were male, 65 and 87 years old, and both had a range of underlying health problems associated with advanced age.