Coronavirus is weakening and management protocols could be downgraded, an expert on China’s state media claimed, after unprecedented protests last week led to a major shift in Beijing’s commitment to its zero-Covid policy, Guardian reported.
Since January 2020, China has classified Covid-19 as a Category B infectious disease but has managed it under Category A protocols. An unnamed infectious disease expert told Chinese media outlet Yicai that more than 95% of China’s cases are now asymptomatic and mild, and the fatality rate is very low, the report said. Under such circumstances, adhering to Class A management is not in line with science, the expert added.
Covid-19 could be downgraded to Category B management or even Category C, the expert was quoted as saying.
Read more: China may pivot a tad more on Covid measures as Xi Jinping faces crisis: Report
Chinese government and its media is now heavily emphasising the reduced severity, marking an abrupt political turnaround for the country’s zero-Covid policy, which Xi Jinping had said was China’s only path out of the pandemic.
{{/usCountry}}Chinese government and its media is now heavily emphasising the reduced severity, marking an abrupt political turnaround for the country’s zero-Covid policy, which Xi Jinping had said was China’s only path out of the pandemic.
{{/usCountry}}An outpouring of public anger appears to have prompted authorities to lift some of the more tough restrictions, even as they say the zero-Covid strategy is still in place. There are some fear millions could die if restrictions were lifted entirely.
Read more: Xi Jinping ‘unwilling to take better vaccine from the West’, US intel says
Beijing, Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Shenzhen are among cities to end a requirement for negative test results in order to board public transport.
China is the last major country trying to stop transmission completely through quarantines, lockdowns and mass testing.