The U.S. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has revealed its forecast of more than a million deaths in China due to the sudden lifting of strict anti-pandemic restrictions.

The number of cases will peak in China in April, and the death toll will rise to 322,000, according to Al Arabiya, the institute said.About a third of China’s population will have been infected by then, said Christopher Murray, director of the institute.

Three days ago, China's Ministry of Health announced a significant rise in the number of coronavirus infections in the country due to the lifting of health restrictions, and the ministry pointed out that the number of infections cannot be counted.

On Dec. 7, Chinese authorities announced the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the country.