2 years on, some weary of China's rigid curbs

Beijing's policy of stamping out Covid-19 is taking a toll on those tired of travel restrictions and manpower shortages. Even as it gears up to host the Winter Olympics in just over six weeks and with 1.18 billion of its people vaccinated, the Chinese government remains adamant that its “zero Covid-19” policy is the only way to go.

Given that few in the country have acquired natural immunity, coupled with the fact that the type of vaccine used in China has shown lower effectiveness than the mRNA type, any attempt to treat Covid-19 as endemic would put a massive strain on China's healthcare system. Furthermore, there are political considerations, given that President Xi Jinping is likely to seek a third term at the helm during the Communist Party of China's congress next year. Any policy easing might be seen as a sign of wavering, and even an admission of a mistake, said Asst Prof Dylan Loh of NTU.

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