China to throw more resources at zero-Covid policy, health chief says

NHC head writes in party publication that permanent quarantine facilities will be built and dedicated teams set up for testing

He also hails progress in Shanghai, saying it has ‘withstood the most severe challenge since Wuhan’ thanks to the strategy

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Testing booths will be set up for routine weekly mass screening in cities with more than 10 million people. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00pm, 16 May 2022

China will throw more resources at its “dynamic zero tolerance” Covid-19 strategy, with its health chief also saying that the situation in Shanghai was improving thanks to the tough approach.

The plan includes building permanent quarantine facilities and setting up dedicated teams to carry out testing, according to Ma Xiaowei, head of the National Health Commission.

Ma made the remarks in an article in Communist Party publication Qiushi on Monday.

It comes as China’s zero-Covid policy is facing growing criticism, including from World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who last week said the policy was not sustainable because of the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant.

Beijing lashed out at the remark, calling it “irresponsible”, and has repeatedly stated that it will stick with the policy, under which it tries to completely stamp out any cases.

Ma Xiaowei, head of the National Health Commission, said the outbreak in Shanghai had stabilised. Photo: Reuters

Ma also hailed progress in the battle against Shanghai’s Omicron outbreak.

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