Corpse-filled aisles in northeast China. Corona patients lie close together in a room, some even on the floor. All are connected to fans.
Videos that epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding (39) shared on Twitter on Monday illustrate the horror of the coronavirus in Chinese hospitals. “This is just the beginning,” the scientist writes, warning of millions of deaths.
After the Chinese leadership abruptly reversed its previous strict zero-Covid policy, the number of infections in the Middle Kingdom has exploded. Despite the rising number of infections, the authorities are sticking to lifting the restrictions. Gone are the days when people had to move to government quarantine facilities.
Test sites had to be converted
However, China is ill-prepared for the wave of corona cases: its underfunded hospitals lack the capacity to admit a large number of patients. In addition, millions of elderly people are still not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Even if a vaccination campaign were to start immediately, it would not immediately stop the massive corona wave. It takes up to four weeks for the vaccines available in China to take effect. Foreign Covid vaccines are not allowed. There is a Chinese mRNA vaccine called “Awcorna”, but it has not received domestic approval and has only been vaccinated in Indonesia so far.
Going to work with corona symptoms
In the eastern city of Suzhou, authorities have rushed to convert test sites into makeshift fever treatment stations, state media said. Other cities, including the capital Beijing, have reportedly distributed free medical kits to some residents and urged patients to seek advice online rather than going to a hospital, according to media reports.
In one of China’s largest cities, people with corona symptoms can now return to work ‘completely normal’ as part of the opening course. “Mildly symptomatic” government, party and state employees in the southern city of Chongqing, with a population of 32 million, could “work normally after taking personal protective measures in accordance with their physical condition and the needs of their job,” reported the newspaper. Chongqing Daily” on Monday, citing a statement from the city government.
In addition, residents were asked not to undergo an “unnecessary” test. Even a negative test result no longer needs to be submitted. Exceptions only apply to certain facilities such as nursing homes, schools and prisons.
China’s zero Covid policy is a thing of the past
In the eastern province of Zhejiang, a major economic center with more than 60 million inhabitants, it was also said on Sunday that people with mild symptoms “can continue to work if necessary, provided they take personal protective measures”.
In mid-December, after nationwide protests and a slump in foreign trade, the People’s Republic began moving away from its zero-Covid policy. Across the country, quarantine rules and testing requirements were initially eased or even abolished, and mass closures came to an end.
Soon after, authorities also announced the end of the state’s Corona app, which had severely restricted people’s movement for two and a half years. The sudden opening now seems to retaliate. (nad/AFP)