China remains in lockdown over 37 million Covid cases
China is currently grappling with one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks seen since the first contagion two years ago. This Tuesday there were already 5,100 cases in one day, the highest number since 2020 in Wuhan. Although there are countries that handle higher figures, in China, this is alarming, since it has been a country with many restrictions during the pandemic.
This wave has been much more contagious than the others. Big cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, including China's capital Beijing, are struggling with outbreaks that have spread to more than 21 provinces.
37 million people in confinement, that is the numbers handled so far. At the beginning of the month, cases were already skyrocketing in some provinces. The state tabloid Global Times expressed at the beginning of the month that China could still be in control of these cases, although the alarm was already being heard.
More than 4,000 of the infections declared on Tuesday were registered in Jilin, this province being one of the main ones in the spread of this strain. Even the media and the authorities do not know how this outbreak started, what is clear is that many factors have influenced it.
Stealth variant
Experts affirm that the Omicron variant is responsible for the excessive wave that is evident in China. Apparently, this is due to the fact that the symptoms of this strain are milder, which makes them almost imperceptible.
In addition, this variant is more contagious than the others that have been experienced. According to the state news channel CCTV, this was the strain that started in Jilin province, however, the World Health Organization certifies that it is a sub-variant of Omicron.
It is 30% more transmissible than the previous one, however, scientists affirm that many people have antibodies to it due to the short time of appearance and the vaccines that have already been implemented.
In another order of ideas, the residents of Changchun, the city of Jilin, Shenzhen, and Dongguan are prohibited from leaving their towns due to the strong outbreak in the areas. There are at least five different types of lockdowns in China, depending on the number of cases in each province.
In Langfang, the measures are more extreme, since the inhabitants cannot even leave their houses. With suspensions of public transportation and indoor dining, school closures, and multiple rounds of mass Covid testing for all residents, these cities remain wary of the outbreak.
About Covid zero
The Covid Zero strategy has been forgotten by many Chinese provinces seeking to live with the virus. Han Jun, governor of Jilin Province, vowed on Monday to end all community broadcasts within a week, sparking a wave of derisive comments on social media.
“Just think about what people suffered when Xian set out to zero community transmission. It is better to be fully prepared and then gradually [eliminate transmission of covid]. If we rush, people will suffer," the governor said in a comment on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.
Xian was in lockdown for more than two months and its residents complained about the measure because they could not search for or access supplies.
It should be noted that Covid Zero is a strategy for control and maximum suppression of transmission, successfully applied in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, or New Zealand. Its objective is to keep the contagion as low as possible and also to eliminate it in specific geographical areas.