China’s response to the coronavirus is entering a new phase, said Sun Chunlan, the deputy premier in charge of the government’s coronavirus policy. It has been shown once again that the Chinese government may be trying to revise its strategy.
Vice Premier Sun held a meeting with the National Health Commission and experts in Beijing on the 30th and said, “The pathogenicity of the Omicron strain is relatively weak, vaccination is progressing, and the government’s knowledge of the new crown is accumulating.” . the fight against Covid-19 is in a new phase and we are facing new challenges”.
According to a post-meeting statement, Mr. Son did not use the term “Dynamic Zero Qing,” which means zero coronavirus. In the previous day’s briefing by organizations such as the National Health Commission, unlike in the past, officials did not mention the word at all, but encouraged older adults to get vaccinated.
Son’s remarks can be taken as the government’s first official acknowledgment that the coronavirus outbreak is no longer so bad, paving the way for further changes to the strict “zero-corona” policy. Several cities in China are easing restrictions, including parts of Guangzhou and central Chongqing.
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:China says fight against Covid is in new phase with less pathogenic Omicron(extract)
