This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/59882774
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| What is China's zero Covid policy and what are its rules? | What is China's zero Covid policy and what are its rules? |
| (7 days later) | |
| Demonstrations have broken out across China over the government's strict lockdown measures. | Demonstrations have broken out across China over the government's strict lockdown measures. |
| Protesters are calling for rules to be eased, even though China is seeing a surge in cases. | Protesters are calling for rules to be eased, even though China is seeing a surge in cases. |
| What are China's lockdown rules? | What are China's lockdown rules? |
| China has one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world. Measures include: | China has one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world. Measures include: |
| Local authorities must impose strict lockdowns - even if only a handful of Covid cases are found | Local authorities must impose strict lockdowns - even if only a handful of Covid cases are found |
| Mass testing is carried out in places where cases have been reported | Mass testing is carried out in places where cases have been reported |
| People with Covid are isolated at home, or placed under quarantine at government facilities | People with Covid are isolated at home, or placed under quarantine at government facilities |
| Businesses and schools are closed in lockdown areas | Businesses and schools are closed in lockdown areas |
| Shops must also close - except for those selling food | Shops must also close - except for those selling food |
| Lockdowns last until no new infections are reported | Lockdowns last until no new infections are reported |
| Tens of millions of people have been living under some kind of lockdown. | Tens of millions of people have been living under some kind of lockdown. |
| Some local authorities have taken extreme measures, such as forcing workers to sleep inside factories so they can work while quarantined. | Some local authorities have taken extreme measures, such as forcing workers to sleep inside factories so they can work while quarantined. |
| In early November, workers at the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, which makes iPhones, staged a mass breakout because of fears they would be shut inside. | In early November, workers at the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, which makes iPhones, staged a mass breakout because of fears they would be shut inside. |
| In August, shoppers in an Ikea store in Shanghai forced their way out through the doors to escape being locked down inside it. | In August, shoppers in an Ikea store in Shanghai forced their way out through the doors to escape being locked down inside it. |
| Schools have been closed in Shanghai | Schools have been closed in Shanghai |
| Some rules, however, have been relaxed. | Some rules, however, have been relaxed. |
| Isolation is now for only eight days, rather than 10 - five days at an isolation centre, plus three at home. | Isolation is now for only eight days, rather than 10 - five days at an isolation centre, plus three at home. |
| China is also now allowing international arrivals for the first time since March 2022. | China is also now allowing international arrivals for the first time since March 2022. |
| After mass protests against Covid lockdowns broke out across the country last week, several cities have further loosened some restrictions. Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chongqing, for example, scrapped the requirement for commuters to present a negative Covid test result to use public transport. | |
| Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan said on 30 November that China's response to Covid-19 is "with a consistent strategy and flexible measures" but authorities need to "further optimise" the rules. | |
| How many Covid cases does China have? | How many Covid cases does China have? |
| Recently, China has seen its first deaths from Covid-19 in months. | |
| On Saturday 3 December, China reported 4,231 new Covid cases, bringing the total number of cases to 1.7 million since the pandemic began. | |
| New infections have been reported throughout China, but the worst affected cities have been Guangzhou in the south, Shanghai in the east, and Chongqing in the southwest. | |
| What is China's vaccination rates? | |
| Overall, China says more than 90% of the population has been fully vaccinated. | |
| However, less than half of people aged 80 and over have received three doses of vaccine. The vaccination rate back in April among this age group was much lower - less than 20%. | |
| The authorities now say they require local health bureaus to "strengthen immunization of the whole population, particularly the elderly". | |
| There are doubts over whether the main vaccines used in China - Sinovac and Sinopharm - are effective against Omicron, the most widespread strain. | There are doubts over whether the main vaccines used in China - Sinovac and Sinopharm - are effective against Omicron, the most widespread strain. |
| Western countries have offered China more effective vaccines, but China has refused to use them widely. | Western countries have offered China more effective vaccines, but China has refused to use them widely. |
| The government has given no official explanation. However, national pride may be a factor according to Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China at the international affairs think tank Chatham House: | The government has given no official explanation. However, national pride may be a factor according to Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China at the international affairs think tank Chatham House: |
| "I think it's Xi Jinping [China's president] really thinking of things in terms of economic self-reliance - that need to have China produce and use its own vaccine, rather than import it from somewhere." | "I think it's Xi Jinping [China's president] really thinking of things in terms of economic self-reliance - that need to have China produce and use its own vaccine, rather than import it from somewhere." |
| The World Health Organization has urged China to change its method of dealing with Covid. | The World Health Organization has urged China to change its method of dealing with Covid. |
| However, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the zero Covid policy is "scientific and effective". | However, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the zero Covid policy is "scientific and effective". |
| Why is China still trying to achieve zero Covid? | Why is China still trying to achieve zero Covid? |
| China is following a policy it calls "dynamic zero" - taking action wherever Covid flares up in order to eradicate it. | China is following a policy it calls "dynamic zero" - taking action wherever Covid flares up in order to eradicate it. |
| China has a programme of mass testing for Covid | China has a programme of mass testing for Covid |
| China's government says this saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, including the elderly. | China's government says this saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, including the elderly. |
| Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll has stayed low ever since the start of the pandemic - the official figure is just over 5,200. | Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll has stayed low ever since the start of the pandemic - the official figure is just over 5,200. |
| This is equal to only three Covid deaths in every million in China, compared with 3,000 per million in the US and 2,400 per million in the UK. | This is equal to only three Covid deaths in every million in China, compared with 3,000 per million in the US and 2,400 per million in the UK. |
| What effect have zero Covid policies had on China's economy? | What effect have zero Covid policies had on China's economy? |
| In recent months, lockdowns have taken place in several cities. | In recent months, lockdowns have taken place in several cities. |
| These include Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million and technology hub, and Shanghai, a city of 26 million which is a manufacturing, trade and financial hub. | These include Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million and technology hub, and Shanghai, a city of 26 million which is a manufacturing, trade and financial hub. |
| Lockdowns have led to factories and ports being shut for long periods. | Lockdowns have led to factories and ports being shut for long periods. |
| They have also affected work with foreign companies. | They have also affected work with foreign companies. |
| It means that China's economy has grown by only 3.9% over the past year, compared with its target of 5.5% for 2022. | It means that China's economy has grown by only 3.9% over the past year, compared with its target of 5.5% for 2022. |
| Unemployment is rising, especially amongst young people, and the property market is weakening. | Unemployment is rising, especially amongst young people, and the property market is weakening. |
| China's lockdown measures are also affecting businesses and consumers in the rest of the world, who have come to rely on China for supplies of goods. | China's lockdown measures are also affecting businesses and consumers in the rest of the world, who have come to rely on China for supplies of goods. |
| A lockdown at the Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou hit the production of iPhones, leading to fears of a worldwide shortage. | A lockdown at the Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou hit the production of iPhones, leading to fears of a worldwide shortage. |
| Factory closures have also led to fears of a shortage of toys ahead of Christmas. | Factory closures have also led to fears of a shortage of toys ahead of Christmas. |
| China urges veterans to work at iPhone factory | China urges veterans to work at iPhone factory |
| Additional reporting by Jeremy Howell. | Additional reporting by Jeremy Howell. |