Xi Jinping troubled by ‘fierce and serious’ spread of Covid in China

Chinese president Xi Jinping has admitted concern and, with two billion trips predicted during the Chinese new year, the risk of more cases has risen.

Since the end of the zero-Covid policy an estimated 60,000 people have died in China. Picture: Alex Plaveski/EPA/The Times

President Xi Jinping of China has admitted being concerned about the “fierce and serious” spread of Covid across his country in his first public comments on an outbreak estimated to have claimed more than 60,000 lives.

Delivering a message to healthcare workers for Chinese new year, Xi defended his previous “zero-Covid” policy of mass lockdowns and testing, which was relaxed last month having stifled the nation’s economy and sparked angry protests in several cities.

Up to half of the country’s 1.4 billion population has since been infected with the Omicron strain, leaving hospitals and morgues overwhelmed.

During Chinese new year hundreds of millions travel back to their home towns to celebrate, with 30.2 million having already travelled on Wednesday alone. Picture: Alex Plaveski/EPA/The Times

The National Health Commission officials told reporters at a news briefing in Beijing on Thursday that China had passed the peak period of Covid in fever clinics and emergency rooms.

But more than two billion trips are predicted during the Chinese new year between January and February, raising the risk of a further wave of cases.

Xi said on Thursday that he was particularly concerned with the risks the virus posed to vulnerable people in rural areas with relatively poor access to medical services, according to state media.

“Epidemic prevention and control has entered a new stage, and we are still in a period that requires great efforts,” Xi was reported as saying, stressing the need to “address the shortcomings in epidemic prevention and control in rural areas”.

Since China reopened its borders earlier this month, other countries have required travellers to present a recent negative Covid test or submit to further checks. Picture: AFP via Getty Images/The Times

The Chinese new year holiday begins on Sunday, with many travelling from cities to the countryside. State media reported that 30.2 million people travelled nationwide on Wednesday alone.

The Chinese leader said the strict zero-Covid policy had been “the right choice”, but the measures were effectively ended on December 7 as China reported record numbers of cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Since then, close to one billion people are estimated to have been infected while, in just over a month, 60,000 people died with Covid in hospitals.

Independent analysts suggest that the death toll could be much higher in a nation with a lack of herd immunity and waning vaccine coverage, especially among at-risk groups.

China opened its borders earlier this month, prompting other countries to require travellers from the country to present a recent negative Covid test or submit to further checks.

In his new year’s message, Xi also urged the country’s health workers to protect themselves against infection.

“We must strengthen the protection and care of our medical staff to ensure your health,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted him as saying.

The Times