During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, China locked the entire city of Wuhan as part of its strategy. The “Zero COVID Policy” urged more than 11 million citizens to be locked in their homes since China continues to follow the same policy.
How Zero COVID Policy Has Impacted China?
China’s “Zero COVID policy” initially succeeded as it recorded the least number of infections worldwide. Under this policy, local officials must control all outbreaks with the least social and economic disruption. Officials may face punishment if their response is deemed inadequate. The targeted lockdowns, quarantine, and mass testing kept the virus at bay and the death toll extraordinarily low.
However, it backfired in numerous ways. As newer variants, such as Omicron, emerged, this system got challenged. Zero COVID policy has resulted in multiple tragedies, including deaths from delayed or denied medical care and suicides. As frustrations with the strict policy boiled over, a deadly building fire in Urumqui sparked protests against COVID restrictions.
Last year saw rampant lockdowns ranging from buildings to entire countries. Lockdowns in Tibet, Shanghai, and Xinjiang had been enforced harshly, resulting in food shortages and other calamities.
With this strategy, it is assumed that Xi wants to show the world that the Chinese people are strong enough to sacrifice their freedom for the common good. Even though the CCP protected its people, ensured their safety, and provided that China survived the coronavirus pandemic without the high mortality rates experienced by many other countries. This narrative ignores the many social ills caused by Zero COVID, such as locked-down residents’ inability to receive emergency medical care, let alone engage in routine activities.
As a result, some Chinese people have protested this strict policy. However, experts believe ending this policy now would be detrimental to the public. As the country focused more on containment, its people needed to be vaccinated properly. Prolonged isolation also stunted its people’s herd immunity.
Is China Truly Prepared for a Re-opening?
Lifting the Zero COVID policy is not as simple as it seems. Analysts predict that it could cause millions of deaths. China does not have herd immunity. The intense isolation prevented the masses from getting vaccinated, especially older people. Even its vaccines are not as effective as the foreign vaccines. China lacks the resources to deal with the overwhelming hospitalizations that this change could cause.
Most Chinese people are vaccinated with one of two domestic COVID-19 vaccines based on an inactivated version of the virus.
Yet, it was discovered that mRNA-based vaccinations from foreign companies provide more protection against infection than these conventional vaccines. However, China has resisted importing vaccines from abroad while local businesses pushed for developing their COVID-19 vaccine based on mRNA.
In case of an inevitable exit wave, Chinese hospitals lack the resources and staff to handle the overwhelming amount of insufficiently vaccinated people affected by the infection. If Zero COVID were to end, China’s economy would not be able to recover right away, possibly taking years because of the overwhelming surge of infections.
What Goes from Here – Zero COVID?
Under the leadership of Xi, China should have talked about lifting the Zero COVID policy. Although it had proven beneficial in keeping the infection rate low, its citizens needed to develop immunity to deal with newer virus variants.
The problem that the country now faces is whether to intensify lockdowns, failing to stop the present increase in cases and inciting unrest, or to reduce restrictive measures to appease demonstrators, potentially resulting in an even greater increase in instances.
Whatever way they take, the country needs government mandates to ensure protection against the virus through effective vaccines. That would mean that Xi must admit that the virus cannot be contained, which he may be reluctant to do given his stake in Zero COVID. However, such an admission can strengthen the government’s authority and influence.
The recent protests show that compliance with pandemic regulations is already declining. Still, if Xi links vaccination with opening, those who had previously relied on the government to keep them safe may suddenly be more willing to get their vaccinations updated or obtain new ones.
Conclusion
According to state media, China is trying to find new ways of dealing with COVID-19. However, the Zero COVID policy could mean they are dealing with a double-edged sword.
Chinese citizens are now free to travel abroad, which is expected to boost the domestic economy. Still, at the same time, a new outbreak of COVID may spin out of control amid accusations China is under-reporting the number.
