China ends zero-Covid strategy: "Worrying doesn't help"

AreaRead the video transcript expand here

According to official information, the number of cases is falling, but the pandemic is not over here: China has been in its worst wave of corona infections for weeks.

Across the country, hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of Covid cases.

Beijing reported 22,000 patients who visited hospitals in the capital alone last Sunday.

Wang, Beijing resident

“Worrying doesn't help.

You should just protect yourself.

The more you worry, the more it affects you.

The best thing is to protect yourself.

Maybe older people should go outside less.

But that's it."

Gao Lin, Beijing resident

“I can understand that people don't go out, especially in households with the elderly and children like mine.

I respect everyone's choice.

If someone wants to go out and work, I support that. But it's also okay for others to be scared and worried about the health of the elderly or the children.

It is your own decision.«

In the face of anti-government protests and a flagging economy last week, the authorities announced easing of their previously strictly enforced zero-Covid policy.

The Chinese Corona app is to be switched off on Tuesday.

There should also be no more large-scale lockdowns.

The strict testing obligation as well as quarantine and isolation rules are relaxed.

This poses a significant risk, as China has a significant vaccination gap, especially among the elderly.

In any case, the number of cases could rise again quickly, since the majority of the Chinese population has hardly come into contact with the virus due to the strict rules.