Decisions by Chinese authorities to ease measures to deal with the corona virus have raised concerns about potential risks, linked to a decrease in vaccination rates among older groups, and expectations of a new viral wave.
In recent days, local officials in some major cities revealed the lifting of some restrictions imposed by the authorities as part of efforts to contain the spread of the Corona virus, including the end of the mandatory exam test for people who want to use the public transport or enter other public places.
“new approach”
The new changes in China’s policies to deal with the Corona virus, which some experts have interpreted as part of a new approach to managing the epidemic, come after protests in several regions of the country, calling for an end to the lockdown measures and a margins of freedoms, in a wave of widespread demonstrations.
China is making efforts to speed up vaccinations of the elderly and other vulnerable groups, who public health experts say need higher vaccination rates before Beijing can fully ease coronavirus restrictions, as in the rest of the world.
Despite the success of the “zero Covid” policy imposed by the Chinese authorities, in reducing death rates compared to other countries, the continuation of its measures for three years has been a source of “frustration for the Chinese, as it affects their lives everyday life and harms the local economy,” according to him. Wall Street Journal.
Last week, thousands of Chinese came out to protest the continuation of lockdown policies, but authorities were able to control the unrest through massive security in major cities, tracing protesters and curbing opposition voices on social media. local media, as well as softening Chinese officials’ tone on the dangers of Corona, and announcing that efforts to combat it have entered a new phase, according to Keeper.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told EU Council President Charles Michel that the spread of the less lethal Omicron variant among Corona variants could allow Beijing to ease lockdown decisions.
Warnings
And as Chinese officials have announced the easing of measures to fight the virus, epidemiologists are issuing warnings that the country is “not yet ready to lift precautionary measures, with potential risks of facing a dangerous virus surge.” “.
And University of Edinburgh public health professor Linda Bauld indicated that although studies show a decrease in Omicron’s strength compared to other variants, “that doesn’t mean it’s underrated,” explaining that “this variant has been shown to be less lethal in countries that have known high vaccination rates or whose citizens have acquired immunity to the virus.
And vaccination rates in China remain relatively low, especially among the elderly, as only 40 percent of people over the age of eighty have received booster shots and the number of people who have acquired antibodies remains low, according to researchers. data reported by the Guardian.
The newspaper notes that Hong Kong’s painful experience with the outbreak of the Omicron mutant last spring reflects the scale of challenges China could face if it mishandles its decision to ease measures to fight the virus.
In this context, London College of Health infectious disease professor Martin Hibberd confirmed to the Guardian newspaper that although the prevalence of Omicron was small in Hong Kong, the death rate from it was high, “noting that China should consider these aspects in decisions.” what do you take.
Beijing has announced it will accelerate vaccination of people aged 60 and over against Covid, along with mitigation measures.
In this context, the Guardian reported that China’s refusal to rely on any foreign vaccines for the Corona virus and its adherence to locally produced ones, which some studies have pointed to as weak in efficacy, could pose other risks to China. .
The World Health Organization has welcomed China’s easing of restrictions to tackle the virus, but its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has also warned of the consequences of the emergence of new variants among the large number of population that had not been vaccinated against the virus.
“We are very close to being able to say that the emergency period is over, but we have not reached that stage yet,” he said during a news conference.
“Gaps in monitoring, testing and vaccination continue to provide ideal conditions for the emergence of a new and worrying variant,” he added.
