The numbers game: Has China really defeated coronavirus?

Analysis: Look carefully at the nature of the data we’re using to track the course of this pandemic, says Ben Chu – and beware premature declarations of victory

Some epidemiologists fear that, when the social lockdown is lifted, Wuhan – and China – could suffer a second major outbreak (AFP/Getty)

The US has now overtaken China in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

As of Thursday, America had 85,996 cases, versus 81,894 in China.

There were 17,224 new cases in the US on that day compared to just 56 in China.