China should focus on preventing serious Covid cases, top expert says

Getting Omicron is ‘not scary’ and boosting vaccination is ‘a key step’ now, according to Zhong Nanshan

His remarks come two days after Beijing announced a major policy shift away from zero-Covid approach

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Infectious disease expert Zhong Nanshan said China must “prevent over-prevention”. Photo: Weibo

Published: 5:30pm, 9 Dec 2022Updated: 6:10pm, 9 Dec 2022

China’s response to Covid-19 should now focus on preventing serious cases – rather than infection – by expanding vaccination, top infectious disease expert Zhong Nanshan said on Friday.

“We cannot adopt the same strategy as two years ago,” said Zhong, a Guangzhou specialist famed for leading the battle against the Sars outbreak in 2003.

“Being infected with Omicron is not scary, as there is a 99 per cent chance to recover in seven to 10 days. We should put our focus on severe case prevention,” he told a medical conference via video link.

“Self-protection, designated hospitals and protection of healthcare workers is particularly important.”

Zhong’s remarks come two days after Beijing announced a major policy shift away from its tough zero-Covid approach. Now, people who test positive but have mild or no symptoms can isolate at home instead of being sent to a quarantine facility, while compulsory mass testing and lockdowns have been abandoned.

“China must prevent over-prevention,” Zhong said, adding that this could lead to more disastrous social and economic results than those from the virus.