As the Beijing authorities no longer adhere to the zero-clearing policy and significantly loosen the epidemic prevention policy, the Chinese have begun to learn to live with the virus. Social networking sites are full of photos of the screening results rapid, as well as posts detailing symptoms and recording the process of the outbreak.
Over the past three years, under the zero-zero policy implemented by the authorities at all costs, the infection has become taboo and recovered patients face employment discrimination and social exclusion. Now that the government has almost abandoned the eradication policy, the epidemic is no longer taboo and many people have started sharing their experiences on the Internet.
Agence France-Presse reported that a Beijing resident wrote on Xiaohongshu, the Chinese version of Instagram: “On the third day back to the office, she will test positive soon.” Attached is a photo of the results of the rapid antigen test.
“I have a bit of a fever right now,” another user wrote, among thousands of similar posts over the past week.
Mm, an Internet celebrity in Beijing’s Little Red Book, also shared her experience of contracting the epidemic, advising readers, “It’s not scary at all, adjust your attitude and drink more water.”
Various folk remedies and home remedies have also been released.
Some people suggest that oranges can be steamed with a little salt, which can soothe a sore throat. Some people also claimed that canned yellow peaches, which they often ate when they were sick, were effective, forcing the mainstream media to jump out and remind the public that eating yellow peaches can protect their minds, but it can’t fight the virus.
Celebrities and public figures have also joined the frenzy of reporting the contagion. Real estate mogul Wang Shi also revealed to his 22 million followers last week that he has contracted the virus asymptomatically.
All kinds of memes (Memes) are also spreading wildly on the internet. “Previously: buying vegetables, etc. is forbidden; now: buying medicine, etc. has a fever.” The post was also widely reposted on Weibo.
After years of authorities pointing out the dangers of contracting the disease, China’s changing online winds reflect efforts by state media and state propaganda to downplay the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in an effort to reassure society.
However, China will face a spike in cases, with millions of elderly people unvaccinated and at risk of contracting the highly contagious variant of Omicron.
And sharing the experience of the epidemic can also have the opposite effect. Beijing Radio and Television reporter Lu Ziyuan shared his experience of being hospitalized with mild illness this week and being scolded on the Internet.
Angry Weibo netizens criticized Lu Ziyuan for occupying medical resources, and the hashtag “Lv Ziyuan gave up the hospital bed” was once in Weibo’s search list.
