Coronavirus in China: travel restrictions should continue to avoid a resurgence, researchers say
- A key to controlling the pandemic lies in the development and widespread use of vaccines that are more effective in preventing infection, says research paper
- China’s continuous pursuit of the zero-Covid policy has come under scrutiny for its high social and economic costs
Chinese researchers said allowing for the movement of people to Covid-zero regions like China would result in 234.2 million infections and 2 million deaths within a year.
Across China, 45 new local Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, a rise from the low of nine cases last week during the Lunar New Year holiday.
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Based on previous studies of vaccine effectiveness against infection in Britain and Chile, the researchers found that the baseline efficacy – indicated by efficacy against infection, against symptomatic disease and against death – was 30 per cent, 68.3 per cent and 86 per cent, respectively.
Even if the vaccination rate reached 95 per cent, the paper said, allowing for transregional movement would result in 234.2 million infections and 2 million deaths within a year in unaffected regions.