China is loosening its covid restrictions, at great risk
The government has not done enough to prepare
Does China still have covid-19 under control? In keeping with its flawed recent handling of the virus, the answer is surely that it does not. The official tally of cases is falling, but that is probably because people are being tested less often. Not long ago the aim was to suppress every infection chain. Today social media suggest that an alarming and rapidly growing number of Chinese people know someone who has caught the disease.
If the virus is indeed spreading, watch out. Once Omicron gets going, it burns through a population like a forest fire. It may now move especially fast in China, because the virus is transmitted more easily during winter. Next month millions will return to their villages and hometowns to celebrate the lunar new year. Many could take covid with them even if they have no symptoms.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "What is the plan?"
From the December 10th 2022 edition
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