SHANGHAI — China's"zero-Covid" stance has put it at odds with the rest of the world and is exacting a mounting economic toll, but an exit strategy remains elusive as authorities worry about the ability of the healthcare system to cope and adapt to new strains.
But China is concerned the cost of lowering its defences could prove even higher, especially with a healthcare system that has lagged its broader development. China is also wary of the risk of new variants, especially as it refuses to import foreign vaccines. Studies suggest China's vaccines are less effective against Omicron and it has not yet rolled out its own mRNA version.
On Wednesday, the Global Times, published by the official People's Daily, also lashed out at overseas media for"mocking" China's policies, saying they saved lives. "Sars-CoV-2 will not magically turn into a malaria-like endemic infection where levels stay constant for long periods," said Dr Raina MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Research Programme at the University of New South Wales' Kirby Institute.
Still, China's economy has remained resilient, with GDP growth at 8.1 per cent last year, far exceeding expectations.
Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »