Chinese state media plays down COVID wave

China’s state media has played down the severity of the COVID-19 wave surging over the country, with its scientists expected to soon give a briefing to the World Health Organization on the evolution of the virus. China’s abrupt U-turn on COVID controls on December 7, as well as the accuracy of its case and mortality data, have come under increasing scrutiny at home and overseas and prompted some countries to impose travel curbs. The policy shift followed protests over the “zero COVID” approach championed by President Xi Jinping, marking the strongest show of public defiance in his decade-old presidency and…