A post shared on social media purportedly shows an image of a hospital used as proof that China has declared a state of emergency.

Verdict: False

The photo is from Jan. 2023.

Fact Check:

The potential ban of the social media platform TikTok has some officials discussing the sale of the platform, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Chinese officials have discussed a sale to X CEO Elon Musk, in which Musk would take over the U.S. operations of the app, the outlet reported.

A post shared on Facebook purports to show a crowded hospital in China due to a recent outbreak. The photo shows the hallways of a hospital crowded with people and hospital beds.

The caption reads in part, “CHINA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOLLOWING THE VIRUS OUTBREAK IN THE COUNTRY. China is now under a State of Emergency due to a sudden outbreak of viruses that hit the Respiratory System or Lungs of the human. Four Viral Infections are now spreading in China, namely Influenza A, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae and COVID-19. Due to the rapid spread of the alleged viruses, hospitals in China’s major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are already full.”

The claim is inaccurate. Reuters published the photo in Jan. 2023. The caption places the photo in Zhongshan Hospital during an outbreak in Shanghai, China.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention did report on certain viruses, but did not announce a state of emergency as the post claims. (RELATED: No, There Is Not A ‘New’ Virus Spreading Throughout China)

A google translate of the report reads in part, “The positive pathogens detected in respiratory samples of outpatient influenza-like cases in sentinel hospitals are mainly influenza virus, human metapneumovirus and rhinovirus; the positive pathogens detected in respiratory samples of hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases are mainly influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and human metapneumovirus.”

This is not the first time miscaptioned photo has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim an image shows a car explosion in India.