The past three strategies of China imposing severe lockdowns to limit Covid-19 outbreaks cost the world’s second-largest economy dearly.
Its president, Xi Jinping, and his close circle of advisors should decide whether a rapid loosening of lockdown regulations implemented this week will both prevent a repeat of the nation’s tremor of protests and revive the economy.
COVID-19 Vaccines
In the days following Beijing’s announcement of law changes, including allowing people with few or no symptoms to quarantine at home, the indicators are only marginally encouraging.
Companies will have to deal with a sickly workforce, which may have an even more significant impact on productivity than a lockdown, due to a shortage of effective vaccines and the fact that a large portion of the population has had fewer or no vaccinations than the three required for complete protection.
State-run media have lauded new vaccinations approved by the government vaccinations approved by the government have been praised by state-run media. Still, little is known about how effective they will be. Meanwhile, rumors that pharmacies are already running low on essential medications such as ibuprofen are eroding public trust in the healthcare system and its ability to protect patients without lockdowns.
Nonetheless, Xi had no choice but to relax the rules. Commerce with the rest of the world had collapsed, and young unemployment had skyrocketed, in addition to unprecedented public outbursts from demonstrators demanding his resignation.
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Zero-Covid Policy in China
Wuhan, in central China, has been under intermittent, partial lockdown since several local logistic hubs, such as Dongxi Hu District, reported incidents throughout the year.
Sam Yuen, a Wuhan teacher, attended rallies in November calling for an end to the lockdowns as public outrage over the zero-COVID policy grew. Thousands of others joined these protests in cities across China.
When people began becoming ill with an unexplained form of pneumonia in December 2019, authorities were chastised for taking too long to act and attempting to conceal the illnesses. The illness was caused by a cluster of cases linked to the Huanan seafood market.
A Reuters reporter visited the downtown market on Friday, which was still boarded up. Due to increased cases in Wuhan, officials were forced to quickly build temporary hospitals in gyms, stadiums, and convention halls while the city was shut down.
According to city officials, 3,869 deaths were officially reported in April 2020. Others believed the actual numbers were much higher due to stories of people waiting in line to pick up loved ones’ ashes and urns piling up at funeral homes.
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