China Relaxes ‘Zero Covid’ Measures, Prompting Economic Hopes and Pandemic Fears
AllSides Summary
After over a week of protests, China announced it would pull back some of its strict “zero Covid” lockdown measures. The news prompted both hopes for an economic recovery and fears of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
What’s Changing: Major changes included accelerating vaccination efforts and making it easier for people to move around — both in local communities and between provinces. China also substantially relaxed a QR code system enforcing whether people could enter public spaces. Covid-positive patients with no or mild symptoms will now be allowed to quarantine at home instead of at a government facility.
Economic Hopes: Stocks rose worldwide in response to the news. The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) reported Thursday that China’s decision was in part motivated by a letter from the founder of Foxconn, who warned that China’s place in global supply chains was at risk.
Pandemic Fears: Since lockdowns kept many in China from getting infected, some worry that China’s population is now vulnerable to a surge in cases. Feng Zijian, former deputy director of China’s CDC, warned that the initial wave could infect 60% of China’s population — about 850 million people.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread across the spectrum in the days following the announcement. By Thursday, however, coverage in some left and center-rated outlets shifted to concerns about a potential virus surge; a headline in The Economist (Lean Left bias) said the move carried “great risk.” Coverage generally described the event as noteworthy, with Fox News (Right bias) including “BEIJING BACKS DOWN” in a headline.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
‘The world changed overnight’: Zero-Covid overhaul brings joy — and fears — in China
Workers across China have dismantled some of the physical signs of the country’s zero-Covid controls, peeling health code scanning signs off metro station walls and closing some checkpoints after the government unveiled an overhaul of its pandemic policy.
But as many residents expressed relief and happiness at the obvious loosening of measures, some worried about its impact and questioned how the new rules would be rolled out.
“The world changed overnight, and that’s really amazing,” said Echo Ding, 30, a manager at a tech company in Beijing. “I feel like we are getting...
From the Right
China Reverses Harshest Covid-19 Restrictions following Protests
China has lifted its strictest zero-Covid policies after protests challenging the draconian measures swept the nation.
Citizens who contract the virus and exhibit mild or no symptoms will no longer be required to check into a state facility to quarantine and can do so at home now, according to a ten-point order issued by the Chinese National Health Commission on Wednesday. Testing requirements for people traveling within China have also been dropped and officials were ordered to discontinue frequent arbitrary lockdowns. The order told officials to “more scientifically and accurately” demarcate “risk zones,” with...
From the Center
How China hopes to chart path to soft landing after Covid restrictions start to ease
Days after a deadly fire in Urumqi propelled fatigued communities to take to the streets, China has initiated an unannounced yet palpable movement away from its “zero-Covid” strategy by lifting lockdowns, ending mass testing and reopening public venues across key provinces.
But Beijing is concerned that the inevitable wave of infections after restrictions are loosened, could lead to a surge in deaths, overwhelm the health system and trigger political instability.
Policy and public health analysts say there are a number of preconditions that must be met – including fully equipped...
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