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| How many Covid cases does China have and what are its rules? | How many Covid cases does China have and what are its rules? |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| China has seen its first deaths from Covid-19 in six months, and thousands more people are catching the disease, despite the government's strict lockdown policy. | China has seen its first deaths from Covid-19 in six months, and thousands more people are catching the disease, despite the government's strict lockdown policy. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has said China should rethink its strategy. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has said China should rethink its strategy. |
| Covid rising across China | Covid rising across China |
| China has been experiencing record numbers of Covid infections. Daily cases in late November exceeded the peak back in April 2022. | |
| New infections have been reported throughout China. Guangdong, in the south, has been the worst affected region in this latest surge. | |
| The overall number of infections and deaths remains very low compared with elsewhere in the world. However, strict lockdown measures have had a major impact on the economy and people's lives. | |
| What are China's lockdown rules? | What are China's lockdown rules? |
| China is no longer imposing a national lockdown and has relaxed a number of previous measures. | China is no longer imposing a national lockdown and has relaxed a number of previous measures. |
| However, the central government is telling local authorities to impose strict lockdowns in their areas when they detect a Covid-19 outbreak - even if only a handful of cases are found. | However, the central government is telling local authorities to impose strict lockdowns in their areas when they detect a Covid-19 outbreak - even if only a handful of cases are found. |
| Mass testing is being carried out in places where cases have been reported. People found to have Covid-19 are isolated at home or placed under quarantine at a government-supervised facility. | Mass testing is being carried out in places where cases have been reported. People found to have Covid-19 are isolated at home or placed under quarantine at a government-supervised facility. |
| Businesses and schools are closed, and so are all shops except for those selling food. | Businesses and schools are closed, and so are all shops except for those selling food. |
| It is one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world and lockdowns last until no new infections are reported. | It is one of the toughest anti-Covid regimes in the world and lockdowns last until no new infections are reported. |
| Tens of millions of people have been living under some kind of lockdown since the latest wave of Covid-19. | Tens of millions of people have been living under some kind of lockdown since the latest wave of Covid-19. |
| Guangzhou, a southern city of nearly 19 million people, recently ordered a five-day lockdown for Baiyun, its most populous district. | Guangzhou, a southern city of nearly 19 million people, recently ordered a five-day lockdown for Baiyun, its most populous district. |
| Schools have been closed in Shanghai | Schools have been closed in Shanghai |
| Some rules, however, have been relaxed. | Some rules, however, have been relaxed. |
| Those found with Covid-19 are now kept in isolation for only eight days, rather than 10 - five days at an isolation centre, plus three days of isolation at home. | Those found with Covid-19 are now kept in isolation for only eight days, rather than 10 - five days at an isolation centre, plus three days of isolation at home. |
| China is also now allowing international arrivals for the first time since March 2022. Inbound travellers need to take a Covid test 48 hours before they arrive. | China is also now allowing international arrivals for the first time since March 2022. Inbound travellers need to take a Covid test 48 hours before they arrive. |
| Why is China still trying to achieve zero Covid? | Why is China still trying to achieve zero Covid? |
| Unlike other countries, which have accepted they will have to live with the disease to a certain extent, China is following a policy it calls "dynamic zero" - taking dynamic action wherever Covid-19 flares up in order to eradicate it. | Unlike other countries, which have accepted they will have to live with the disease to a certain extent, China is following a policy it calls "dynamic zero" - taking dynamic action wherever Covid-19 flares up in order to eradicate it. |
| China's government argues that this policy saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, such as the elderly. | China's government argues that this policy saves lives, because uncontrolled outbreaks would put many vulnerable people at risk, such as the elderly. |
| Strict lockdowns mean China's death toll has stayed low ever since the start of the pandemic - the official figure is now 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 now just over 5,200. |
| This reported figure equates to 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 reported figure equates to 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 at the same time. | In recent months, lockdowns have taken place in several cities at the same time. |
| These include Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million, which is the centre of China's technology sector, and Shanghai, a city of 26 million which is China's manufacturing, trade and financial hub. | These include Shenzhen, a city of 17.5 million, which is the centre of China's technology sector, and Shanghai, a city of 26 million which is China's manufacturing, trade and financial hub. |
| Lockdowns have led to factories and ports being shut for long periods, and they have affected a number of joint ventures with foreign companies. | Lockdowns have led to factories and ports being shut for long periods, and they have affected a number of joint ventures with foreign companies. |
| This means that China's economy has grown by only 3.9% over the past year, compared with China's growth target of 5.5% for 2022. | This means that China's economy has grown by only 3.9% over the past year, compared with China's growth target of 5.5% for 2022. |
| It is also affecting businesses and consumers in the rest of the world, who have come to rely on China for supplies of goods. | It is 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 has affected the production of iPhones, leading to fears of a worldwide shortage of them. | A lockdown at the Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou has affected the production of iPhones, leading to fears of a worldwide shortage of them. |
| Factory closures have also led to fears of a shortage of toys worldwide in the run-up to Christmas. | Factory closures have also led to fears of a shortage of toys worldwide in the run-up to Christmas. |
| China urges veterans to work at iPhone factory | China urges veterans to work at iPhone factory |
| Why does the WHO think a zero-Covid policy is wrong? | Why does the WHO think a zero-Covid policy is wrong? |
| China was seen as an example of a country handling the virus relatively successfully at the start of the pandemic. | China was seen as an example of a country handling the virus relatively successfully at the start of the pandemic. |
| But the WHO has said it is very hard to contain the current Omicron variant spreading across China because it is more infectious than other variants. | But the WHO has said it is very hard to contain the current Omicron variant spreading across China because it is more infectious than other variants. |
| "The virus is evolving, changing its behaviour," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu of the WHO. "With that... changing your measures will be very important." | "The virus is evolving, changing its behaviour," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu of the WHO. "With that... changing your measures will be very important." |
| Chinese President Xi Jinping says the zero-Covid policy is "scientific and effective", and the government has said the WHO's suggested change of policy would "inevitably lead to the deaths of a large number of elderly people". | Chinese President Xi Jinping says the zero-Covid policy is "scientific and effective", and the government has said the WHO's suggested change of policy would "inevitably lead to the deaths of a large number of elderly people". |
| Is more vaccination the answer? | Is more vaccination the answer? |
| Only about half of people in China aged 80 and above have received their primary vaccinations, with fewer than 20% of them having secured a booster. | Only about half of people in China aged 80 and above have received their primary vaccinations, with fewer than 20% of them having secured a booster. |
| Fewer than 60% of the 60-69 age group is fully vaccinated. China has been urging the elderly to get vaccinated. | Fewer than 60% of the 60-69 age group is fully vaccinated. China has been urging the elderly to get vaccinated. |
| People in these older age groups are the most likely to die from Covid-19. | People in these older age groups are the most likely to die from Covid-19. |
| There are also doubts over whether the two main vaccines used in China, Sinovac and Sinopharm, are really effective. | There are also doubts over whether the two main vaccines used in China, Sinovac and Sinopharm, are really effective. |
| Both use inactivated virus to prompt an immune response. | Both use inactivated virus to prompt an immune response. |
| Studies suggest they provide little protection against infection by the Omicron variant, even after two doses. | Studies suggest they provide little protection against infection by the Omicron variant, even after two doses. |
| The US and other Western nations have offered China mRNA vaccines, which might be more effective - but they have not been widely used in mainland China. | The US and other Western nations have offered China mRNA vaccines, which might be more effective - but they have not been widely used in mainland China. |
| Additional reporting by Jeremy Howell. | Additional reporting by Jeremy Howell. |