For a video presentation of today’s article, please click here: China will not end it’s Zero Covid policy and the biggest reason for this decision is actual political. But first, let me be completely honest with everyone. I’m very concerned with the Covid situation and future of China. Everyone knows about the 25 million people under strict lockdown in Shanghai but currently there are over 45 cities across China that are under some form of lockdown.
As a Shanghai native, I totally agree with Cyrus. Shanghai needs to adapt, Zero Covid is not feasible anymore now as Omicron and its subvariants can spread very easily and its "airborne". Plus, most of people who got the infection did not even know it (asymptomatic) and the fatality is extremely low. Using vast resources to contain this virus is not only unfeasible but also cause secondary damage to people's health/lives as we witnessed a huge number of people lost their lives that could have been saved otherwise. The most ridiculous thing happened repeatedly at ER of hospitals where patients who are required to do a COVID PCR test (Rapid antigen test is not recognized as valid) before any treatment provided! How ridiculous is this? I also agree with Cyrus that the government should prioritize the strategy to vaccinate the vulnerable group by whatever means. Vaccination, as we know now may not effectively prevent the COVID infection in a lot of cases but vaccinated with whatever vaccines do prevent mild/moderate cases from getting worse. Most COVID related deaths are among unvaccinated people. The zero policy is no longer the best policy now. the officials in China tend to think if "Zero-Covid policy" is abandoned would mean "doing-nothing". No, it is not a binary situation here. Policy needs to adaptive and nimble but not rigid. Hope the situation in Shanghai could get better soon!
As a Shanghai native, I totally agree with Cyrus. Shanghai needs to adapt, Zero Covid is not feasible anymore now as Omicron and its subvariants can spread very easily and its "airborne". Plus, most of people who got the infection did not even know it (asymptomatic) and the fatality is extremely low. Using vast resources to contain this virus is not only unfeasible but also cause secondary damage to people's health/lives as we witnessed a huge number of people lost their lives that could have been saved otherwise. The most ridiculous thing happened repeatedly at ER of hospitals where patients who are required to do a COVID PCR test (Rapid antigen test is not recognized as valid) before any treatment provided! How ridiculous is this? I also agree with Cyrus that the government should prioritize the strategy to vaccinate the vulnerable group by whatever means. Vaccination, as we know now may not effectively prevent the COVID infection in a lot of cases but vaccinated with whatever vaccines do prevent mild/moderate cases from getting worse. Most COVID related deaths are among unvaccinated people. The zero policy is no longer the best policy now. the officials in China tend to think if "Zero-Covid policy" is abandoned would mean "doing-nothing". No, it is not a binary situation here. Policy needs to adaptive and nimble but not rigid. Hope the situation in Shanghai could get better soon!