Chinese experts explain the possibility of failure of the `Zero Covid` strategy

(Dan Tri) – A scientist who helped China control the SARS epidemic said that the `Zero Covid` strategy that Beijing is pursuing will not be successful in dealing with Covid-19.

People line up to wait for Covid-19 testing in northwest China (Photo: Xinhua).

In an interview with Phoenix TV broadcast on November 8, Guan Yi, a famous scientist who helped China prevent the SARS epidemic, said China should focus on building a shield to protect the community by

Mr. Guan is director of the state key laboratory for emerging infectious diseases at Shantou University in southern China.

Mainland China has begun giving booster shots to its people, after completing vaccination for nearly 80% of its 1.4 billion population and starting to vaccinate children.

However, China is still struggling with sporadic outbreaks.

China’s National Health Administration said on November 9 that the country recorded 54 new cases of infection, compared to 62 cases the day before.

Although the number of new infections per day in China is much lower than in other countries around the world, China still tightens harsh anti-epidemic measures according to the Zero Covid strategy, including closing down

Chengdu city government on November 10 said it had conducted 30,000 Covid-19 tests at a large entertainment center, all of which had negative results.

`Local governments are taking a zero-tolerance approach to these scattered cases. But if they keep it up, I think our economy will collapse… I think there will be no chance

`Similar to the flu, the virus that causes the Covid-19 pandemic has adapted to the human body and will survive with us for a long time. That is the truth, whether we like it or not. This virus has completely adapted itself.

According to Mr. Guan, the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003 could be extinguished because the virus had not yet fully adapted to the human body.

Mr. Guan said that China should learn about the level of antibodies in people after vaccination, instead of spending too many resources on testing and detecting positive cases.

He also said China is operating a laboratory in Shantou to evaluate the effectiveness of Covid-19 treatments and develop this oral antiviral drug.