Opinion | China’s experience shows coronavirus second wave need not be a disaster
- The good news is Beijing’s experience shows we can tame second waves in a way that minimises disruption through greater preparedness and understanding
- In the next stretch of the battle against the coronavirus, global anti-pandemic efforts need to be smarter and more collaborative
By early June, life in Beijing had largely returned to normal. Roads and restaurants were full again. Almost two months went by without a locally-acquired infection.
It is a reminder that Covid-19 spreads silently and can reappear at any time. Complete eradication is virtually impossible, a fact underlined by the re-emergence of clusters around the world, from Australia and Germany to Israel and South Korea.
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What if Covid-19 is here to stay? Why we may need to prepare for the coronavirus becoming endemic
The first difference is our level of understanding and preparedness. During early outbreaks, we knew little and were ill-equipped to deal with the virus. Facing uncertainty, sweeping lockdowns were the only way to avert potential catastrophe.