You should look at the actions and not just what they say to find out what China’s government is doing with its Covid plan. For example, Beijing.
Although there has been no significant decrease in the number of infections, public transportation does not require a PCR result. Bars and restaurants slowly reopen, while some people can be allowed to stay at home after contracting Covid, rather than being placed in centralised quarantine.
When you look at what’s happening right now, it seems that the government has quietly abandoned zero Covid as an objective.
However, this does not necessarily mean all Covid-related restrictions are gone. This does not necessarily mean that all restrictions will be removed in half an year.
However, the goal to reduce each new infection by reducing existing outbreaks has been abandoned.
This new strategy appears to reduce the spread of the virus and hopefully allow the system to deal with it.
In order to control the spread of the virus, this may include monitoring it as it grows in an effort to reduce the risk of serious illness or death.
Sometimes it could also be the imposition of additional measures. However, cities do not need to keep track of zero cases in order to continue to operate.
Beijing isn’t the only one to remove some restrictions – they differ from region to region.
For example, in south-eastern Zhejiang Province there will be no regular testing except for those who are working for certain jobs.
Shandong Province in the East will not require any checks for driving on highways or buying cough medicine. Central Henan Province won’t require PCR testing to be allowed into housing communities.
Similar easements are also taking place in major cities like Shanghai, Wuhan and Chongqing as well as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Urumqi is the capital of Western Xinjiang Region. In Tibet, public transport is now back in operation.
A few weeks back, the Chinese government urged the people to continue with their zero-Covid policy.
Despite the overwhelming evidence showing that China’s epidemi control measures are destroying the economy and people’s lives, Xi Jinping addressed the Great Hall of the People at the Communist Party Congress. He reiterated his policy of no straying from it. Protests followed.
Ten people were killed in a tower fire at Urumqi, which triggered a storm of anger from the public. Social media claims that the Covid restrictions were responsible for the deaths. They are believed to have prevented firefighters from reaching residents and blocked their escape routes. Beijing has denied this, and the BBC was unable to confirm the claims. However, it is clear that demonstrations erupted in the aftermath of the fire.
Protesters in cities all over the country demanded that zero Covid be ended. Protesters wanted to return to their former lives. Some started to call for Xi Jinping’s resignation.
Since 1989’s political upheaval that led to the brutal crackdown at Tiananmen Square, there have been few instances of such public resistance against the party.
Changes are happening suddenly – Chinese people make jokes about protests actually working.
The government was put under more pressure after the death of Jiang Zemin, former leader. Many see his era as an era of high-speed economic growth and reconnecting with others. These are striking comparisons to the present situation.
Another danger to Xi Jinping’s government was the possibility that public mourning might turn into more protests. This was what happened many decades ago when Hu Yaobang, the reformist leader, died. Crowds gathered to mourn his death and became part of Tiananmen Square’s protest movement.
This has resulted in a government, which had previously underestimated the public’s anger over its Covid measures suddenly changing its tack.
This is a face-saving method.
China’s officials were not going to apologize to the people who kept them in China for so long.
However, the party has begun to shift its messaging through state media. They now claim that Covid is not as dangerous as it used to be.
This change is clear from previous statements that Covid hell was raging around the globe. Citizens should be thankful to have been able to reside in China, where safety and security are assured.
There are two significant issues remaining.
First, efforts to increase vaccinations, particularly for the elderly or those at high risk, have been insufficient. According to official figures, only 40% of those over 80 years old have received a booster shot. In Hong Kong, large numbers of deaths were caused by unvaccinated seniors.
Second, Chinese officials have worked for years to increase the hospital ICU capacity. The hospital ICU capacity in China is still inadequate. This would mean that a sudden influx of patients after an increase in Covid cases could really put the system to the test.
Therefore, we will try to keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed and move slowly. They can be restricted if they become overwhelmed.
China will continue to evolve its new path, even though it may mean going backwards sometimes.
