December 5, 2022
2 mins read

China ends zero-Covid policy amid nationwide protests: Report

Sun Chunlan, vice-premier and Covid chief, announced last week that the country’s health system had “withstood the test” of Covid-19 and China was in a “new situation”…reports Asian Lite News

In the face of the most widespread national protests since the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square demonstrators in 1989, the Chinese government has abruptly abandoned its flagship zero-Covid policy, according to a media report.

In Beijing, people prepared to go into shopping malls or on public transport without a recent negative test, The Guardian reported. Elsewhere, they were allowed to enter parks and supermarkets without checks, or told they could quarantine at home – rather than a government facility – if they had come into contact with a case.

Now Beijing has decided to move on.

Sun Chunlan, vice-premier and Covid chief, announced last week that the country’s health system had “withstood the test” of Covid-19 and China was in a “new situation”.

After years of telling its citizens that the only way to stay safe from Covid was to avoid it entirely, the policy pivot required a new message. Beijing has opted for presenting the prevailing Omicron variant as a less lethal version of the original disease, The Guardian reported.

The problem, epidemiologists warn, is that Beijing’s stance does not reflect studies on the impact of Omicron, and the country is ill-prepared for a wave of deadly Covid infections that it may soon face.

“China has to find a way out of this. So I think it’s quite helpful for them to be able to argue that the virus has evolved in some way that makes it easier to open up,” said Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, The Guardian reported.

“With Omicron, certainly from the studies [so far], there may be some small reduction in disease severity but not a huge one.”

Omicron has proved less deadly as it spread across countries such as Britain, but by the time it had become dominant, about 95 per cent of the UK population had some form of antibodies from vaccines or previous infections, Bauld said.

China has relatively low vaccination and booster rates, particularly among the vulnerable elderly – only 40 per cent of the over-80 population have had booster shots. Almost no one has natural antibodies from previous infections.

China’s healthcare system was weak and patchy even before the pandemic and has been undermined by years of fighting Covid, The Guardian reported.

ALSO READ: China’s ‘Blank-Page Revolution’ draws global attention

Previous Story

Shehbaz accuses Imran for undermining Pakistan’s foundations

Next Story

Bangladesh records highest monthly exports in November

Latest from -Top News

India, Japan Eye Deeper Global Role

PM Modi will embark on his journey on August 29, which also marks his first annual summit with PM Ishiba….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Japanese counterpart Shigeru

Bangladesh Election 2026: Renewal or Ruin?

If reforms are upheld, February 2026 could mark a democratic turning point for Bangladesh. If not, the polls risk repeating a cycle of mistrust and division….reports Asian Lite News On 5 August

Organ Mafia Carves Up Pakistan’s Poor

What makes these crimes even more disturbing is the involvement of medical professionals. Surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses—sworn to save lives—are repeatedly implicated….reports Asian Lite News The rescue of a young man in

Yunus Says Bangladesh ‘Stable, Ready for Polls’

Yunus stated that Bangladesh has reached a “stable enough” position and is ready to hold polls…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday announced that national elections will be
Go toTop

Don't Miss

China Targets Uyghurs Living Abroad To Suppress Protest

According to a report, Beijing uses a number of methods

The Growing South China Sea Dispute

China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea, which