Government
Medical Facilities bursting, China scraps ZERO-COVID
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#China, December 13, 2022 – The Chinese healthcare system is bracing for what could be an incredible upsurge in COVID-19 cases as it rolls back some of its strictest rules and abandons ZERO COVID; according to AP News the country is scrambling to increase ICU and bed space in its hospitals after revealing it will phase out the mobile itinerary app which used to track residents and monitor if they had been in high risk areas. The app announcement follows ten relaxed rules the country announced on December 7th to “further optimize the COVID-19 response”
The new rules detailed by Chinese Media Agency Xinhua, now seek to prioritize a scientific approach rather than the
It cuts out mass testing, and removes the need for COVID tests and QR codes to enter most areas except high risk places like nursing homes. Patients will be treated in order of severity and asymptomatic people and close contacts will no longer be bussed in masse to remote quarantine sites.
Cities will not suffer under month’s long quarantines if there are no new cases after five days. Pharmacies medical care and care for the elderly will be required to remain open and available.
China has undoubtedly been one of the most successful countries at keeping its citizens alive during the pandemic with minimal infections and even less deaths compared to its billion strong population. Still many residents disagreed with the harsh protocols and protests began in earnest two weeks ago and spread across the country, escalating when several people died after a COVID quarantine apartment caught fire.
China is the most populated country on earth and its vast cities contain millions of people in close quarters an easy environment for covid-19 to spread in.
Among concerns for the country as they enter a phase that the rest of the world has long passed is possibly low natural immunity, a rising death rate and a lower than desired vaccine coverage in the elderly.