World

China keeps strict zero-Covid policy ahead of 20th Congress, harass citizens

October 12, 2022
Bharat Times

New Delhi: The Chinese people were disappointed to learn that the Communist Party of China (CCP)’s zero-Covid policy would be maintained after the 20th National Congress. According to local media, given the country’s economic slowdown, there is increasing public pressure on the Chinese government to relax its zero-Covid policy. However, discussions at the ongoing 7th Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP) focused on the party’s determination to maintain the stringent zero-covid policy even after the 20th National Congress of the CCP. This was echoed by the party’s mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, urging the public to “be patient” with a zero-Covid policy on October 10 to cut all virus transmission chains.

People’s Daily’s call for patience has dashed public hopes that COVID-related restrictions will be eased after Congress. Notably, China has recently seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, driven by more transmissible forms. New Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7, which are highly contagious and more contagious, have been discovered in the latest COVID outbreak in China, which coincides with the 20th Party Congress. On Monday, the BF.7 subvariant spread to more Chinese provinces.

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The highly contagious virus was first discovered in northwestern China. On the other hand, the subvariant BA.5.1.7 was first discovered in the Chinese mainland, according to Li Shujian, deputy director of the local Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, reports the Global Times. Shandong officials reported that variant BF.7 has been responsible for four locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since October.

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The World Health Organization warned against the highly contagious BF.7 COVID subtype. It is also expected to become a new flagship variant of the subvariant. China is the last major economy in the world still enforcing strict zero-Covid measures aimed at stamping out the chain of transmission through border restrictions, mass testing, widespread quarantines and unrelenting snap lockdowns. The ruling Communist Party has used a zero-Covid strategy to argue that its political model is superior to that of Western democracies, and Xi has put his weight behind the policy.

(with ANI inputs)