Political fallout from outbreak continues, with three more leaders sacked, as change in criteria leads to surge of cases
The number of deaths and infections caused by the coronavirus in China has risen sharply after authorities changed the way they calculated the figures amid a purge of party officials in the stricken province of Hubei.
On Thursday China confirmed 254 additional deaths – the majority of them in Hubei, the centre of the outbreak, bringing the total death toll to 1,370. After days of declines in new infections, Hubei province reported an enormous increase of almost 15,000 – a jump of about a third on the total so far.
Related: Coronavirus latest updates: Hubei's leader sacked as deaths in China pass 1,300 – live news
Xi would have wanted the personnel change to project a sense that he is in control
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