China's zero-Covid policy is untenable; a policy reform is required soon
Key Takeaways:
- China's 'zero-Covid' policy for tackling the Covid-19 epidemic has been declared unsustainable by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Hundreds of thousands of illnesses and over 500 deaths have been reported in Shanghai, but Beijing's caseload – roughly 900 – has stayed low.
- According to Ryan, any efforts taken to avoid the Covid-19 epidemic should show "due consideration for individual and human rights."
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that China's 'zero-Covid' strategy for combating the Covid-19 epidemic is unsustainable. It has been recommended Beijing implement a policy shift to address the rising caseload.
"We don't think it's sustainable, given the virus's behavior," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference in Geneva late Tuesday.
The WHO's announcement comes after a wave of aggressive Covid-19 outbreaks in Shanghai, Beijing, and other provinces, which China has been fighting to contain with lockdowns and mass tests.
Most of Shanghai's 25 million citizens have been confined to their homes for weeks. Beijing has adopted various rigorous Covid-19 control measures, including the closure of public areas, the prohibition of dine-ins, and the suspension of scores of metro stations and bus lines.
Since March, Shanghai has documented hundreds of thousands of illnesses and over 500 deaths, but Beijing's caseload - around 900 – has remained low.
The economic impact has been enormous, with the worldwide supply chain being severely disrupted, particularly due to the Shanghai shutdown.
The Chinese government has committed to continuing its dynamic zero-Covid campaign, citing President Xi Jinping's stern remark last week as an example, warning that any leniency could result in many more cases, fatalities, and damage to the health system.
However, the WHO claims that these interventions are ineffective.
"When we talk about the zero-Covid plan, we don't think it's sustainable," Ghebreyesus added, "given the virus's current behavior and what we expect."
"We discussed this with Chinese specialists and advised that the method would not be sustainable," he added, adding that "transitioning to another strategy will be crucial."
"We need to weigh control measures against their impact on society and the economy. That isn't always an easy calibration," WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan was cited as saying by AFP.
Any actions used to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Ryan, should show "appropriate regard for individual and human rights."