What next for China’s zero-Covid strategy, as herd immunity hopes face Delta hurdle?
- The more contagious variant and waning vaccine protection mean herd immunity and a return to pre-pandemic normalcy remain out of reach
- But even as other nations in the region choose to live with the virus, China is holding fast to its no-tolerance policy
This is the first part of a series on challenges in China’s battle against Covid-19. Here, Zhuang Pinghui looks at the road to herd immunity as more transmissible variants emerge and what that means for hopes of opening up.
Once enough people had been vaccinated, enough of a community barrier against the coronavirus would have been built, so that outbreaks could be limited and the country would be free to reopen safely to the world, that was the hope.
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China steps up zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19 as Delta fears grow ahead of Beijing Olympics
With the virus mutating into ever more contagious and risky variants, vaccination has been expanded to younger age groups and booster doses offered to make up for waning protection more than six months on.
Strong public health interventions such as strict quarantine rules, vigorous testing and contact tracing are still being quickly put in place at the first sign of a local outbreak.