Beijing reinforces antivirus measures due to the increase in cases

There is no truce for the covid zero policy in China.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
20 October 2022 Thursday 02:30
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Beijing reinforces antivirus measures due to the increase in cases

There is no truce for the covid zero policy in China. With just a handful of new cases registered, Beijing has decided to intensify measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus through greater public controls and the closure of some residential complexes.

The announcement comes during the celebration of the XX Congress of the Communist Party, the five-yearly meeting in which Xi Jinping is scheduled to renew his position for a third term. Given its importance, the authorities have been working hard for weeks to prevent a viral outbreak from overshadowing the meeting.

The city of 21 million inhabitants detected 18 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total accumulated in the last ten days to 197 positives, four times more than those reported in the previous ten days. They are insignificant figures in other latitudes, but the zero covid policy does not allow them to be taken lightly.

To limit the chains of transmission, health authorities urged the adoption of stricter controls and meticulous inspections in crowded places such as supermarkets or gyms. In addition, an elementary school and some residential complexes have been placed under isolation for three days, a period that could be extended if new cases emerge. "Make sure no one is overlooked," they asked their officials.

Since the pandemic began, Beijing has opted for a zero-tolerance policy that includes severe border controls, massive tests and restrictions on movement whenever an outbreak arises, no matter how small.

Although this strategy has served to keep the number of infected and deceased at bay (5,226 dead among a population of 1,400 million people, according to official data), it has also caused serious damage to its economy and a growing boredom among part of its population.

On Sunday, during the opening speech of the congress, many hoped that Xi would offer some indication about the exit or relaxation of his strategy. However, the president only limited himself to defending his policy and avoided talking about terms or conditions to relax the controls.

“We put people and their lives above all else with our tenacious covid zero policy. We have protected people's health to the greatest extent possible,” he told the 2,300 delegates gathered in the Great Hall of the People. His words confirmed the trail marked in recent days by the state press, in which he unswervingly defended the zero covid policy and bet on its continuity while asking the population for “patience”.

Still, the country is taking small steps that, in the long run, could make a possible opening easier. In recent days, the major Chinese airlines - China Eastern, China Southern and Air China - have announced the resumption or reinforcement of several international routes.

On this matter, the State Council -the Chinese Executive- called for an "orderly increase" in the number of domestic and international flights and "convenience measures" to facilitate the transportation of workers from foreign companies.

For its part, the official press highlights the relative recovery in demand in recent weeks, although the volume of international journeys of the Asian giant continues to be between 4% and 5% compared to what was registered in 2019, before the start of the pandemic.

In addition, according to Bloomberg sources, the authorities are now studying the possibility of reducing the duration of quarantines for visitors from the current 10 days (seven hotel days plus three surveillance days at home) to 7, although for now there is no official notification. about.