The Chinese leadership’s departure from the zero-Covid strategy has enormous consequences: the number of sick people is increasing, infections can no longer be traced, and many clinics cannot cope with the onslaught of infected people. At the same time, corona tests and many medicines are sold out.

After the relaxation of China’s strict zero-Covid strategy, many hospitals are dealing with an onslaught of infected people. In metropolises like Beijing, Guangzhou or Shijiazhuang, hospitals experienced “the first shock of a gigantic wave of infections and a shortage of health workers,” wrote the renowned business magazine “Caixin”. Clinics are overcrowded. There are often snakes. Patients infected doctors and health workers. The magazine wrote of “Covid chaos”.

In a radical U-turn last Wednesday, the government largely scrapped its rigorous zero-Covid strategy. Lockdowns have been ended, the strict obligation to test, forced quarantine or isolation of contact persons has been largely relaxed. Even before that, however, there had been signs that the number of infected people was increasing and that the tests and tracking of the infections were no longer able to keep up.

Cold and fever medication and rapid tests are sold out in many pharmacies. Many shops and restaurants are closed. People don’t dare to go outside for fear of infection. The streets of the capital Beijing seemed empty.

After repeated warnings about Omikron had been issued in recent months, the state media downplayed the danger of the virus and compared the infection to normal flu. According to the party-affiliated newspaper “Global Times”, leading epidemiologists said that the wave of infections would peak within a month. Since there is no longer any testing and probably hardly any reports, the official case numbers no longer reflect what is happening.

Sick leave in companies has skyrocketed. “I know of 25 positive cases or sick people in my area alone,” said a resident of Beijing. Another man estimated that a third of his acquaintances were sick.

(This article was first published on Monday, December 12, 2022.)