China, After Years Mocking U.S. Over COVID, Has World's Deadliest Hotspot

China on Tuesday reported new COVID-19 infection cases in the country had doubled on Monday from the prior day, which resulted in a two-year high. The news dealt a blow to Hong Kong's frequent touting of its tough COVID measures as well as to its frequent criticism of the United States' response to the pandemic.

China's National Health Commission reported a total of 3,507 new domestically transmitted cases on Monday, up from Sunday's 1,337, according to Reuters. China's latest figures are small compared to many countries, including the U.S., where the daily new case average is 39,024, but the country's strict zero-tolerance COVID policy is now being questioned as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly in the country.

Meanwhile, while the U.S. still has higher numbers, it has also seen a decline in daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths in recent weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. and China have sparred publicly over the coronavirus dating back to the beginning of the pandemic two years ago. At the time, then-President Donald Trump began referring to coronavirus as the "Chinese Virus" while Chinese officials chastised his administration for downplaying the seriousness of the pandemic.

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