Rare WHO comment on China’s “no Covid-19”

Reuters This is one of the rare WHO comments on the Chinese government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tedros said at a press conference on May 10: “We have discussed this with Chinese experts. We have shown that that approach will not be sustainable… I think the important thing. “There has to be change. A better understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and better tools to combat it also suggests it’s time to change strategy.”

WHO Director of Emergencies Mike Ryan further noted the impact of the “no Covid-19” policy. “We are always reminded that it is necessary to balance measures to control the Covid-19 pandemic and their impact on society and the economy. It is not always easy,” Mr. Ryan noted. .

An area under lockdown in the capital Beijing on May 10. Photo: Reuters

According to Mr. Ryan, China has recorded more than 5,000 Covid-19 deaths since the SARS-CoV-2 virus was first detected in Wuhan City at the end of 2019. This is a relatively low number compared to the previous year. nearly 1 million deaths in the US, more than 664,000 deaths in Brazil and more than 524,000 deaths in India.

Given the large number of deaths in the US, Brazil and India, it is not difficult to understand why China wants to take tough measures to limit the spread of Covid-19. However, China’s “no Covid-19” policy entailed the blockade of millions of people and many consequences.

The recent Covid-19 outbreaks in China also point to difficulties in containing the spread of the Omicron variant.

Bloomberg May 11 cited a study indicating that the level of immunity due to China’s March vaccination campaign was not enough to stop the Omicron wave.

According to researchers at Fudan University (Shanghai City), China is at risk of suffering a Covid-19 “tsunami” that kills 1.6 million people if the government abandons the “no Covid-19″ policy. ” and let the Omicron variant spread uncontrollably.

The study was published in the journal Nature warned that an uncontrolled wave of Omicrons could lead to 112.2 million symptomatic Covid-19 cases, 5.1 million hospitalizations and 1.6 million deaths, peaking between May and May. 7-2022.

On May 10, Shanghai City reported 1,487 new cases of Covid-19, down from 3,014 cases a day earlier. The capital Beijing reported 37 new cases of Covid-19, down from 74 a day earlier.