President Xi Jinping of China has finally accepted the errors of his harsh Zero COVID-19 policy, which failed to contain the virus and triggered the country’s first widespread mass demonstrations in decades.
In his New Year’s Eve address to the nation, the prime minister acknowledged extraordinary problems and challenges and stated that it was only normal that his tough lockdown measures were faced with resistance.
Xi Jinping Acknowledges His Mistakes
The Zero Covid restrictions were lifted by Xi on December 7 following the widespread protests; nevertheless, his new strategy of coping with the virus has caused infections to rise, with Beijing currently witnessing a peak in infections.
In the first 20 days of December, a stunning 248 million individuals, or 18 percent of the population, caught the virus, according to the government’s highest health body.
Despite claims by loyalist officials that only one death was reported today, hospitals and crematoriums have been overwhelmed with patients and unable to accommodate the mortality surge.
In his talk, Xi broke his silence on his last month’s abrupt policy shift, which liberated millions from virtual house arrest, obligatory testing, blocked borders, and quarantine camps.
He stated that China is currently in a new phase of COVID-19 control that has been ‘optimized’ to protect lives and the economy.
In October, when he won a third term of office at his party’s convention, the tone of his address was jubilant.
According to the research firm Airfinity Ltd, there might be up to 25,000 deaths per day in January due to the virus.
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China’s COVID-19 Cases
Approximately 9,000 people are reportedly dying each day in China, and the cumulative death toll since 1 December has likely topped 100,000, while the number of infections has reached 18.6 million, they claimed.
Airfinity, a British company, anticipates that China will reach its first peak on January 13 with 3.7 million daily infections.
However, Chinese officials state that just 5,250 deaths have been registered throughout the entire pandemic, compared to over a million in the United States and 11,000 in Hong Kong, which has a population of 7.4 million.
China has stated that it only counts COVID-19-related deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure. The comparatively low death rate is also contradictory with the increased demand for funeral services indicated by funeral homes in various areas.
Some of those who gathered to sled or ice skate on a frozen lake in the capital’s Shichahai Lake Park were elated that restrictions had been lifted.
Zhong, a 22-year-old college student, was also at the lake. He stated that he had been at home for two or three weeks after becoming infected.
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