China declared victory over Shanghai’s coronavirus outbreak as the nation reported its fewest new cases in more than three months, vindicating Covid Zero in the eyes of Beijing despite the policy’s rising economic and social toll.
A report on the front page of the People’s Daily newspaper Thursday headlined “Great Achievements Have Been Made in the Defense of Shanghai” claimed victory in the fight against the virus in the city of 25 million. In a separate commentary, the chief mouthpiece of the Communist Party said it proved yet again that Covid Zero is the strategy most suited for China because of the country’s aging population, relatively low vaccination rate among the elderly and children, and inadequate medical resources.
The number of new infections dropped to 61 in China Wednesday from 68 Tuesday. It was the lowest level since February 17. It’s a marked turnaround from the tens of thousands of cases reported daily in the first half of April, when Shanghai’s outbreak appeared to be spiraling out of authorities’ control, triggering a city-wide lockdown that disrupted business and upended people’s lives.
Learn More The Rising Costs of China’s Zero-COVID Policy
The city reported just 13 cases for Wednesday, when movement restrictions were eased to allow about 90% of Shanghai’s residents to move about freely for the first time in more than two months.
President Xi Jinping’s dramatic decline in national infections, from a peak at almost 30,000 by mid-April, will be viewed as proof that he is on the right track. China’s leader has made zero tolerance for Covid a cornerstone of his rule as he seeks an unprecedented third term at the Party congress due later this year. China is the origin of Covid. With its over 1 million deaths, China boasts what it believes to be its triumph over the virus.
Couple and pet dog pose for a picture at Bund, Shanghai at Midnight on June 1, 2022.
Zheng Xianzhang/VCG via Getty Images
But keeping the virus out — especially in the face of more contagious and immune-evasive variants — is exacting a hefty price, with the country shut off from the rest of the world and most economists predicting the country will fail to meet its economic growth target for this year. In some instances, factories have been closed for several months. Supply chains are clogged as China uses a strategy of mass testing, movement restrictions and compulsory isolation of all Covid patients and close relatives.
Beijing was the capital of China, but it managed to avoid a lockdown by aggressive curbs like asking 22 million people to work at home, and getting tested each day.
Officials from the municipality said that although there are no signs of an outbreak, they have taken steps to reduce it. However, there’s still the possibility for a flare-up. After shopping centers and entertainment venues closed last month, authorities are considering measures to boost consumer spending. Beijing reported 14 cases for Wednesday.
China declared victory over Shanghai’s coronavirus outbreak as the nation reported its fewest new cases in more than three months, vindicating Covid Zero in the eyes of Beijing despite the policy’s rising economic and social toll.
Learn More China’s Public Is Divided Over the Zero-COVID Approach
A report on the front page of the People’s Daily newspaper Thursday headlined “Great Achievements Have Been Made in the Defense of Shanghai” claimed victory in the fight against the virus in the city of 25 million. In a separate commentary, the chief mouthpiece of the Communist Party said it proved yet again that Covid Zero is the strategy most suited for China because of the country’s aging population, relatively low vaccination rate among the elderly and children, and inadequate medical resources.
The number of new infections dropped to 61 in China Wednesday from 68 Tuesday. It was the lowest level since February 17. It’s a marked turnaround from the tens of thousands of cases reported daily in the first half of April, when Shanghai’s outbreak appeared to be spiraling out of authorities’ control, triggering a city-wide lockdown that disrupted business and upended people’s lives.
Protective suits worn by staff drive the Bund along in Shanghai on June 1, 2022.
Hu Chengwei/Getty Images
The city reported just 13 cases for Wednesday, when movement restrictions were eased to allow about 90% of Shanghai’s residents to move about freely for the first time in more than two months.
President Xi Jinping’s dramatic decline in national infections, from a peak at almost 30,000 by mid-April, will be viewed as proof that he is on the right track. China’s leader has made zero tolerance for Covid a cornerstone of his rule as he seeks an unprecedented third term at the Party congress due later this year. China is the origin of Covid. With its over 1 million deaths, China boasts what it believes to be its triumph over the virus.
Learn More China’s and the World’s Implications of a Beijing lockdown
But keeping the virus out — especially in the face of more contagious and immune-evasive variants — is exacting a hefty price, with the country shut off from the rest of the world and most economists predicting the country will fail to meet its economic growth target for this year. In some instances, factories have been closed for several months. Supply chains are clogged as China uses a strategy of mass testing, movement restrictions and compulsory isolation of all Covid patients and close relatives.
Beijing was the capital of China, but it managed to avoid a lockdown by aggressive curbs like asking 22 million people to work at home, and getting tested each day.
Officials from the municipality said that although there are no signs of an outbreak, they have taken steps to reduce it. However, there’s still the possibility for a flare-up. The authorities are looking at ways to increase consumer spending. After entertainment venues and shopping malls were closed for the last month, they have only just reopened with limited capacity. Beijing reported 14 cases for Wednesday.
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