Chinese around the world were ushering in the New Year according to the traditional lunar calendar on Saturday evening, as the Year of the Tiger gives way to the Year of the Rabbit on Sunday. But in China itself, anxiety and loss persists after the recent spike in Covid-19 infections, while officials attempt to paint a brighter picture of the health situation. In Chinese mythology, the rabbit – the fourth of the 12 signs of the zodiac – stands for harmony and longevity. In China, the New Year started at midnight (1600 GMT) on Saturday. This is the first New Year celebration since the communist…