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 15 | Version 16 |
|---|---|
| China Covid: What is China's policy and how many cases are there? | |
| (11 days later) | |
| There are growing concerns over the spread of Covid in China following the recent easing of strict lockdown measures. | |
| Hospitals and medical facilities have come under increasing strain as those who've tested positive at home seek medical support. | |
| How many new Covid cases are there? | |
| In the week ending 11 December, official figures showed a fall in the total number of new infections across the country after a peak the previous week. | |
| This decline in reported cases may however be explained by significant changes in the way testing for Covid-19 is being carried out. | |
| China has stopped mass testing and is only recording positive cases at hospitals and fever clinics where the patient has Covid symptoms. | |
| Asymptomatic cases and positive results from home-testing kits are not recorded in the data. | |
| The number of Covid cases, however, is putting severe pressure on the health system. | |
| Covid wave batters China's overstretched hospitals | |
| Temporary health centres are being set up along with intensive care facilities across the country. It's been reported that in Shanghai alone, an extra 230,000 hospital beds have been made available. | |
| There have also been reports of high demand for fever remedies at pharmacies. | |
| What was China's zero Covid policy? | What was China's zero Covid policy? |
| Before the recent relaxation of restrictions, China had one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world - known as its zero-Covid policy. | |
| The measures included: | The measures included: |
| Strict lockdowns imposed by local authorities - even if only a handful of Covid cases found | Strict lockdowns imposed by local authorities - even if only a handful of Covid cases found |
| Mass testing in places where cases reported | Mass testing in places where cases reported |
| People with Covid isolated at home, or placed under quarantine at government facilities | People with Covid isolated at home, or placed under quarantine at government facilities |
| Businesses and schools closed in lockdown areas | Businesses and schools closed in lockdown areas |
| Shops closed - except for those selling food | Shops closed - except for those selling food |
| Lockdowns continuing until no new infections reported | Lockdowns continuing until no new infections reported |
| This meant tens of millions of people were living under some kind of lockdown. | This meant tens of millions of people were living under some kind of lockdown. |
| Some local authorities took extreme measures, such as forcing workers to sleep inside factories so they could work while quarantined. | Some local authorities took extreme measures, such as forcing workers to sleep inside factories so they could 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. |
| How have the rules changed? | How have the rules changed? |
| Following the protests against Covid lockdowns across the country - including direct criticism of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party - the government announced an easing of the measures. | |
| These include: | These include: |
| Lockdowns now targeted to buildings, units or floors rather than to whole neighbourhoods or cities | Lockdowns now targeted to buildings, units or floors rather than to whole neighbourhoods or cities |
| "High-risk" areas to come out of lockdown in five days if no new cases are found | "High-risk" areas to come out of lockdown in five days if no new cases are found |
| Schools to remain open if there's no wider campus outbreak | Schools to remain open if there's no wider campus outbreak |
| People with Covid no longer required to go to a centralised quarantine facility | People with Covid no longer required to go to a centralised quarantine facility |
| PCR tests are no longer required to enter public transport, restaurants, gyms and other public buildings, with the exception of schools, hospitals and nursing homes | PCR tests are no longer required to enter public transport, restaurants, gyms and other public buildings, with the exception of schools, hospitals and nursing homes |
| Lateral flow tests to replace PCR tests in most cases | Lateral flow tests to replace PCR tests in most cases |
| Inter-province travel restrictions lifted | Inter-province travel restrictions lifted |
| National tracking app discontinued | |
| Earlier, the government reduced isolation from 10 to eight days - five days at an isolation centre, plus three at home. | Earlier, the government reduced isolation from 10 to eight days - 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. |
| Schools have been closed in Shanghai | Schools have been closed in Shanghai |
| What are China's vaccination rates? | What are China's vaccination rates? |
| Overall, China says more than 90% of the population has been fully vaccinated. | 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%. | 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 services to "strengthen immunization of the whole population, particularly the elderly". | The authorities now say they require local health services 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 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 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." |
| Was zero Covid policy effective? | Was zero Covid policy effective? |
| The Chinese government called its now dismantled policy "dynamic zero" - taking action wherever Covid flares up in order to eradicate it. | The Chinese government called its now dismantled policy "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 |
| The government said this saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, including the elderly. | The government said this saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, including the elderly. |
| Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll had stayed low ever since the start of the pandemic - the official figure is just over 5,200. | Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll had 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. |