As the highly transmissible OmicronVariant seeps into China and the social and economic costs of their “zero COVID” policy mount, Chinese researchers are examining options for coexisting with the virus.
China’s aggressive “zero COVID” strategy has served it remarkably well. The country has reported fewer than 154,000 cases and 5200 deaths from COVID-19 so far, a tiny fraction of the figures in the United States. But as the highly transmissible Omicron variant seeps into the country and the social and economic costs of the zero COVID policy mount, Chinese researchers are examining options for coexisting with the virus, as the rest of the world is doing. Some think that shift may soon begin.
China’s zero COVID policy has relied on mass testing, contact tracing, isolating the infected, restrictions on international and domestic travel, and lockdowns of entire cities. The system has helped China stamp out every outbreak so far, including several of the Omicron variant since mid-January. But outbreaks are becoming more frequent and widespread.
Under what’s now called “dynamic zero COVID,” localities have leeway to “tailor the measures to local conditions,” says HKU virologist Huachen Zhu. But the national government is pushing back at what it considers unnecessary local restrictions. On 18 February, the National Development and Reform Commission, which manages economic affairs, told local governments to avoid arbitrary lockdowns and barred unauthorized closures of restaurants, supermarkets, tourist sites, and cinemas.
The city now plans to test every resident three times in March to identify cases and may resort to limited or even citywide lockdowns. But HKU modeling suggests things will get worse before they get better. If social distancing measures stay the same—meaning restaurants stop serving after 6 p.m. and gyms, bars, and hair salons are closed—4.6 million Hong Kong residents will have been infected by mid-May, the models suggest. More than 3200 will have died.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘COVID zero’ regions struggle with vaccine complacencySome places such as Hong Kong that excelled at keeping the coronavirus out are grappling with low vaccination uptake.
Read more »
For China, living with Covid starts in Hong KongBeijing may be softening its zero-tolerance stance. A large unvaccinated elderly population and tight hospital capacity remain big risks. But lessons from the global financial hub, now grappling with surging infections, provide a case study for China's eventual reopening.
Read more »
WSJ News Exclusive | How Will China Relax Its Zero-Covid Grip? With Bubbles, Drugs and New MessagingThe world’s strictest pandemic-control regime likely won’t be relaxed until next year, but experimental opening measures could come as soon as summer.
Read more »
Ted Cruz: Texas Should Be 'Ground Zero' for Crypto IndustryTexas Senator Ted Cruz sees his state becoming the world's biggest cryptocurrency hub, doubling down on his support for the fledgling sector
Read more »
China asked Russia to delay invasion until after Olympics, Western intel showsA Western intelligence report indicated that Chinese officials in early February requested that senior Russian officials wait until after the Beijing Olympics had finished before beginning an invasion into Ukraine, US officials said Wednesday.
Read more »