Chinese health authorities insist country will stick to zero tolerance approach to Covid-19
- Official from the National Health Commission defends the policy as ‘in line with science’ as the country continues to battle sporadic outbreaks
- Country is continuing to use lockdowns and travel controls to contain virus as other countries start to open up further
The Chinese government’s approach contrasts with those of many countries that have decided to ease restrictions on travel and social gatherings while encouraging vaccination in an attempt to return to normality.
01:04
Panic buying after China’s Covid-19 cases continue to surge
“We will continue to adhere to strict Covid-19 controls, build a solid barrier against imported cases and local transmissions, and consolidate the hard-won results of prevention and control,” Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the National Health Commission‘s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, told reporters.
“It is proven that our strategy of preventing the import and local spread of the virus and control measures are in line with national conditions and science.”
He added that the country has effectively controlled around 30 outbreaks, all traced back to imported cases, since the first outbreak in the central city of Wuhan in 2019, saying: “We ensured the stability of the overall Covid-19 situation by putting out outbreaks once we discover them.”
China has maintained a zero-tolerance policy that uses mass testing, frequent contact tracing, lengthy quarantine and strict border controls.