After three years of lockdowns, the country was ill prepared for its abrupt ‘freedom’. Now, with some estimating 1m deaths, public anger is growing

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/29/chinese-cost-covid-xi-lockdowns-china

Xi’s extraordinary backflip left analysts alarmed and confused. China was not the only country to choose a zero-Covid strategy, and certainly not the only one to “let it rip” once it dropped it. But it was the last, and global health experts say there were plenty of lessons it could have heeded – primarily, making sure vaccinations and health resources were high before the tsunami of cases hit.

“All governments had to decide to open up at some stage or risk the consequences of lockdowns far outweighing the problems of Covid,” says Professor Emma McBryde, an epidemiologist at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

“Most models suggest that it would be better for the health system to open up slowly. Although there would be little change in how many people get infected, it could mean some lives are saved if the health system can function well.”

But Xi threw the gates open. Right up until the day of repeal, local governments were still developing and enforcing zero-Covid measures and infrastructure. The city of Chongqing was building a 21,000-bed quarantine centre.

Experts on health and Chinese politics have told the Observer they believe the local authorities were hamstrung. Any preparations for ending zero-Covid would be seen as a vote of no confidence in both the policy and Xi – an act of political suicide.

习近平的非同寻常的反败为胜，让分析人士感到震惊和困惑。 中国不是唯一一个选择零冠状病毒战略的国家，当然也不是唯一一个一旦放弃就”放任其分裂”的国家。 但这是最后一次，全球卫生专家说，它本可以吸取很多教训——主要是确保疫苗接种和卫生资源在海啸袭击之前就足够了。

澳大利亚昆士兰州汤斯维尔詹姆斯库克大学的流行病学家艾玛·麦克布赖德教授说:”所有政府都必须决定在一定阶段开放,否则封锁的后果将远远超过新冠肺炎的问题。”

“大多数模型建议，卫生系统最好是慢慢开放。 虽然感染人数不会有太大变化，但如果卫生系统能够正常运作，就可能挽救一些人的生命。”

但是习近平打开了大门。 直到废除当天,地方政府还在开发和实施零新冠肺炎对策和基础设施。 重庆市正在建造一个21000张病床的检疫中心。

卫生专家和中国政治专家告诉《观察家》，他们认为地方当局束手无策。 任何结束零新冠肺炎的准备工作都将被视为对该政策和习近平不信任投票——这是一种政治自杀行为。