China saw a surge in COVID cases across the country recently with 1.4 billion people getting the disease.

The government has begun breaking down the stringent zero-COVID regime of mass lockdowns.

With concerns over economic meltdown, the United States said Beijing's surprise decision to let coronavirus run free was a concern for the world.

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US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on December 19, “We know that any time the virus is spreading, that it is in the wild, that it has the potential to mutate and to pose a threat to people everywhere.”

“We – the United States continues to be a leading force for countries around the world in the provision of vaccines and helping countries overcome the acute phase of the virus. We certainly hope that will be the case before long in the PRC as well," he added.

Health experts estimate 60% of people in China could be infected with COVID over the coming months.

Health experts estimate 60% of people in China could be infected with COVID over the coming months.

They also estimated more than 2 million deaths.

China is also downplaying the possibility of the now predominant Omicron strain that could evolve to become more virulent.